The Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) is threatening to begin a strike in companies providing air transport technical services on 25 October 2010 at 05.00, unless a new collective agreement covering air transport services is achieved before then. At the same time, the IAU announced that an overtime ban will continue in companies providing air transport technical services, even though it has been cancelled elsewhere. In the Finnair Group, the industrial action will affect Finnair Technical Services Oy, Finnair Engine Services Oy and Finnair Flight Academy Oy. Negotiations on a collective agreement have been at a standstill for two weeks due to a disagreement between the IAU and the Finavia-owned company RTG Ground Handling. A solution was reached on the issue last Friday, at which time collective agreement negotiations resumed. The IAU, however, broke off negotiations almost immediately and at the weekend announced the threat of industrial action. Should it take place, the IAU's strike would adversely affect Finnair's flight operations significantly. Finnair hopes that the National Conciliator will intervene in the dispute as soon as possible. Finnair Plc Communications 11.10.2010 Further information: Finnair Media Desk tel. +358 9 818 4020, comms(a)finnair.fi Rethink Quality website: www.finnair.com/rethinkquality Finnair blogs: http://blogs.finnair.com Finnair on Facebook: www.facebook.com/finnair Photobank: www.finnair.com/gallery Finnair Group website: www.finnairgroup.com via.Helsinki: www.viahelsinki.com