HELSINKI University academics followed their British comrades onto the picket lines yesterday in a nationwide war over salary conditions.

Finnish education and welfare unions Juko, Fuurt, JHL and Pardia have been battling since November to keep alive a 2006 deal guaranteeing employees a voice in setting salaries.

Fuurt said in an email to its members that “the university sector has been without a collective agreement since the beginning of February. New collective labour agreement negotiations are not progressing because the employer has indicated a contempt for its staff throughout the negotiations.”