The Teachers' Union in Helsinki (HOAY) has assured that no schools will be shut down due to the demonstration.

Schools: The Trade Union of Education in Finland (OAJ) has estimated that all schools will remain open on Friday despite the massive demonstration mounted by labour market organisations in protest of the changes to the terms and conditions of employment outlined by the Government.

Matriculation examinations will similarly be held regardless of the demonstration. Examinees who are late due to disruptions to transport services will be granted additional time to take the examination.

Daycare centres: Some daycare centres, on the other hand, may close their doors on Friday. OAJ, which represents the majority of daycare teachers, has stated all daycare centres should not be closed under any circumstances. However, some daycare teachers and assistants are members of different unions.

More on the topic: - Friday's strike to halt all rail traffic (14 September 2015) - Watch a live broadcast of the demonstration at hs.fi (in Finnish)

Vantaa has announced its intention to keep all of its 126 daycare centres open, while Espoo and Helsinki are expected to comment on the matter on Thursday.

Buses: A number of bus operators will halt their services between 3am on Friday and 3am on Saturday. The work stoppage will affect not only local and commuter services but also long-distance and express services.

Charter buses and coaches, however, will be in service across Finland on Friday.

Onnibus has stated that it will operate one hundred services on Friday. Pohjolan Liikenne has similarly announced that its managerial staff will ensure at least some of the Finnair City Buses to Helsinki Airport are in service.

Trains: All trains will come to a halt at 6am and not re-commence service until 6pm on Friday. Trains departing before 6am, however, will be driven to their destination.

No commuter trains depart before six in the morning.

The first three Allegro trains departing from both Helsinki and St. Petersburg will be cancelled, while the trains departing from Helsinki at 8pm and from St. Petersburg at 7.25pm will be operated as usual. The work stoppage will cause no disruptions to the overnight express service between Helsinki and Moscow, Tolstoi.

Trams and metros: Tram and metro services will be suspended throughout Friday, from the first morning service to the last night service, after the joint organisation of railway professionals (JHL) decided on Wednesday in favour of participating in the stoppage. The majority of tram and metro drivers are members of the joint organisation.

Any possible exceptions will be announced in the course of Thursday.

Taxis: No disruptions to taxi services are expected on Friday. The services may nonetheless be affected by the expected spike in demand, despite the fact that the entire taxi fleet of Helsinki will be in service on Friday.

Air traffic: Air traffic is likely to suffer from disruptions or, at least, widespread delays on Friday. Finavia, the operator of airports in Finland, has announced that it will utilise its managerial staff and other temporary arrangements in order to guarantee air traffic control, security and other airport services for the duration of the demonstration.

Delays in air traffic are nevertheless expected especially in the afternoon and evening.

Air traffic controllers, airport ground personnel and cabin crew members will organise a work stoppage between 11am and 1pm on Friday. Airport personnel represented by the Transport Workers' Union (AKT), in turn, will not report for work at all.

Passengers are advised to check with their airlines or travel agencies for announcements on possible delays and cancellations. Finnair has declared that it will allow its passengers scheduled to fly on Friday to change the date of their flight at no additional cost.

Health care centres: The Union of Health and Social Care Professionals in Finland (Tehy) and the Finnish Union of Practical Nurses (Super) have encouraged their members to participate in the demonstration but to do so on their free time. The demonstration therefore should not affect the operations of health care centres.

Shops: The Service Union United (PAM) has similarly encouraged its members to take part in the demonstration or to stage a work stoppage between 11am and 1pm on Friday. Shops, restaurants and cafés may therefore be closed or short-staffed at lunchtime on Friday.

Spokespersons for Kesko and SOK have stated that the majority of grocery shops will remain open regardless of the demonstration. Nearly all Alko shops, however, will close their doors between 11am and 1pm, according to PAM.

Banks: Trade Union Pro, the representative of the employees of Osuuspankki, Danske Bank and some smaller banks, has encouraged its members to participate in the demonstration. Branch managers will decide whether or not their branch will remain open on Friday based on the human resources at their disposal.

Post offices: Posti will suspend all of its operations between 6am and 6pm on Friday with the exception of early-morning newspaper deliveries. No letters or parcels will therefore be delivered tomorrow, and the majority of post offices – with the exception of eight – will remain closed.

A list of the eight post offices that remain open on Friday is available on the website of Posti.

HS-HT

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Photo: Rio Gandara / HS