Joni, who works in Finnair's in-flight catering services, says he has lost income this month due to industrial action. And he's had enough.
"I've already lost 160 this month just because of the strikes," he told Yle.
The prolonged industrial dispute affecting Finland's ground handling services has polarised opinion among employees, with some expressing fatigue and frustration over continued strike action.
Yle collected views from airport workers online regarding the dispute and how it has affected morale and working conditions. Two workers agreed to speak on condition of anonymity due to concerns about repercussions in their workplaces. Their identities are known to Yle.
"I'd like to go back to work, but I want to be fair to my colleagues"
Joni said he is primarily frustrated with the financial impact of the strikes. Unlike many unions, the Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) does not pay strike benefits, which adds to workers' economic strain.
Similar sentiments were echoed by others who contacted Yle. Some noted that peer pressure compels them to strike even if they are generally satisfied with their working conditions or proud of their employer.
Joni has taken part in walkouts but admits he feels conflicted. While he recognises the importance of strikes in society, he believes the union may have gone too far in this case.
"Of course, it's good that the union stands up for workers and doesn't give in too easily, but I don't know if we've pushed this too far," he said.
He questioned the effectiveness of recent short strikes. The IAU has staged several four-hour work stoppages in recent weeks, resulting in around a thousand flight cancellations.
"To my knowledge, all long-haul flights have been operating normally, and those are the most profitable routes. I think the union should have gone in hard with a multi-day strike from the start to see if it worked—and if not, then made some concessions," Joni added.
Although he's eager to return to work, he says he doesn't want to undermine his colleagues.
"It wouldn't be fair for me to think only about the money while everyone else is trying to secure better pay for everyone. Still, a lot of people here are visibly disappointed when they hear about more strikes, knowing it means losing more income," he said.
Joni hopes for a compromise that brings tangible benefits to workers.
"The employer could at least bend a little, maybe one percentage point above the general level. Even if it means the union doesn't get everything it wants."
"I'm ready for longer strikes"
On the other side of the debate is Janne, who works as a ramp agent in ground services. He is prepared to strike for as long as necessary — even beyond the current short walkouts —despite the financial cost.
"I've lost a couple of days' pay so far, but it hasn't broken my finances," he said.
At the core of the dispute between employer group Palta and the IAU is pay.
Union representatives argue that ground handling staff missed out on wage increases during the pandemic, leaving them behind the national norm. Employers contend that both sides agreed at the time not to compensate for those missed raises later. Palta says it is only willing to offer increases in line with the general wage settlement.
Janne believes the time to fight for pay equity is now.
"We're not even asking for anything above the general level — just trying to catch up. If we don't get it now, we never will. Finnair will make sure of that," he said.
For Janne, the strike is a matter of principle. If the union succeeds, all staff will benefit.
He is also critical of the apparent disparity in how money is allocated.
Recently, business daily Kauppalehti reported that Finnair's board had approved an unusually large bonus for new CEO Turkka Kuusisto, increasing it from 120 percent to 200 percent of his base salary.
"I have nothing against high executive salaries in principle — those at the top probably earn them. But the amount IAU workers need to catch up to the general level is quite small. It could practically be covered by the CEO's most recent bonus," Janne said.
Mediation in the dispute is scheduled to continue on Sunday. If no agreement is reached, further strikes are planned for Wednesday and Friday. Finnair has warned these would lead to more flight cancellations.
