Workers walk out in protest against restructuring at HOK-Elanto restaurants in Finland

Employees of HOK-Elanto’s restaurants staged a spontaneous walk-out in protest against ongoing restructuring negotiations. At 6 PM on Friday, workers left the establishments and gathered at the station square for an hour. According to Samuli Miettinen, representing the Uudenmaan Marava trade union, restaurant workers are increasingly anxious about the reduction in their working hours.

HOK-Elanto has announced that the goal of the negotiations is to decrease the proportion of full-time staff in their restaurants, which is expected to improve profitability. The negotiations affect a total of 505 employees at the restaurants. HOK-Elanto’s preliminary assessment indicates that the plan may result in up to 140 employees facing potential part-time contracts, layoffs, or significant unilateral changes to their employment terms.

The prospect of increased part-time work, and a possible reduction in working hours, is a major concern for the workforce, according to Miettinen. “The biggest worry is how we will manage financially in the future,” he stated.

Sanna Korpela, chair of the Uudenmaan Marava trade union, made an appeal to HOK-Elanto in a press release. “We understand the industry’s challenges and the need for HOK-Elanto to adjust its finances. However, our union urges everyone to consider that if employees cannot make ends meet with their salaries, they will seek employment elsewhere.”