A three-day strike of retail workers has begun in Finland, which is expected to last for three days, until the morning of February 11. The strikers are demanding better working conditions, Finnish media report.

The labor dispute is between the Trade Association, representing employers, and the Service Employees' Union PAM. So far they have not been able to reach an agreement.

The strike will involve employees of hypermarket chains Kesko and S-ryhmä across the country and the outlets of these chains will be closed during the days of the action. Markets in some cities and regional terminals of the Kesko logistics services do not work either. Employees of the K-Citymarket, Prisma and Lidl chains are also on strike, according to the list on the union's website.

Individual stores have decided to work these days, journalists note. Their representatives say that they don't observe a rush of customers, but warn that the lines may be longer than usual.

If the parties do not reach an agreement, the next strike will take place on February 16-18, when 415 stores all over Finland will be closed. It is assumed that 26,000 workers will be on strike then.