Political protest by Neste employees cancelled

A planned political protest by Neste employees, set to have started on 26 June, has been cancelled.

Personnel groups at the Finnish sustainable fuels provider announced on 20 June that they planned to arrange a political protest against the ownership policy in Finland. Representatives of employee groups said they would discontinue Neste’s fuel distribution at the company’s Porvoo and Naantali terminals from 7am on 26 June until 7pm on 2 July.

Following discussion between Neste’s top management and representatives of the country’s employee groups on the morning of 20 June, the decision was taken to cancel the planned protest, averting significant disruption to the company’s distribution.

"Our cooperation with the employee groups is good, and we rely on openness in our discussions. Like in previous situations, the combination of these two proved its strength. We are relieved and very happy for our customers, and naturally for our own business, that the suspension of deliveries will not take place," said Neste's Hannele Jakosuo-Jansson, senior vice-president, Human Resources and Safety.

"The personnel groups never wanted to harm the company or to cause trouble to the customers. At the meeting, we received information on a promise from Mika Lintilä, the minister responsible for government ownership steering in Finland, that he would discuss the matter with the representatives of the employee groups. As the line to the minister is now open, there no longer is a need to organize a protest in this situation," said chief shop steward Sami Ryynänen from Neste's Porvoo refinery.