Espoo staff cuts could affect about 130 workers

Espoo may lay off employees or make substantial changes to their employment terms affecting about 130 people, Helsingin Sanomat reported. The city says the final figures are not yet known, Yle reports.

When cooperation negotiations began in September, the city estimated that cuts could affect up to 300 employees. The reported figure is lower than that initial estimate.

Helsingin Sanomat reported that the proposed reductions include up to 50 employees in central administration and staff under the city board, 40 in the urban environment division, 20 in the vitality area and 20 in the growth and learning division. The newspaper said the number of layoffs could still fall.

Espoo communications director Johanna Pajakoski said the figures reported by the newspaper were estimates included in the proposal before negotiations began. The final figures have not been established.

The city is seeking savings of about 10 million euros through staff cuts. The negotiations, which covered all of Espoo’s roughly 11,000 employees, ended on Wednesday. The city plans to inform staff about the cuts on Monday.