Finnish State Post employees have sought to prevent a postal worker strike by cutting a hole in the fence of the company s logistical centre to give access to hired strike-breakers, according to photos published by the postal trade union leader on Monday. Unionised postal and logistical workers decided to walkout after failing to prevent the state company from taking unilateral action to reduce the quality of working conditions.

Seven thousand workers of Finland s state postal monopoly, Posti, called for strike action between 6 am on Monday to midnight on Sunday. The state company announced in October that it would reduce the salaries for new recruits, and extend working hours and the frequency of shifts. All in all, the company aims to give lower salaries to employees for longer hours.

The new conditions apply to workers in mail delivery, distribution, and logistical centres. The Finnish Post and Logistics Union (PAU), representing more than seven thousand employees, had sought to prevent strike action through a series of negotiations with Sirpa Paatero, the minister supervising municipalities and state-owned companies. After failing to reach agreement, PAU announced with the approval of the National Conciliator on 7 November, that trade union-members will go on strike between 11 and 17 November, as the positions of the parties appeared irreconcilable.

Although they agreed on the sufficient level of services, PAU representatives, including President Heidi Nieminen, have claimed several times in recent days that Posti hired temporary staff in order to break the strike. Trade union workers have taken measures to block the entrance of the largest postal distribution centres to prevent paid strikebreakers from entering. 

Mail deliveries are expected to be delayed by several days due to the walkout while delays to packages and international shipments could be up to several weeks. Online shopping is very popular in Finland and a significant portion of goods ordered as Christmas presents are likely not to arrive in time for festivities.

On Monday morning, PAU s president circulated photos to the Finnish daily papers showing Posti cutting a hole in the fence of the largest distribution centre in Lieto, a hub for international shipments. The images show a subcontractor responsible for maintenance opening the fence, accompanied by security guards of hired by another subcontractor. The photos were taken one hour before the official start of the strike, Nieminen claims, adding that it is unquestionable that the move was orchestrated by Posti rather than an individual action.

The management of the state-owned postal company is yet to comment on the accusations so far.