HELSINKI (AFP) - Finnish security guards and walked off the job Friday - but there was no traffic at the airport due to Icelandic volcano ash.

• Finnair cancels all flights on Friday
• Half of all transatlantic flights cancelled Friday

Finnish security guards and airport security staff walked off the job Friday morning after talks to resolve a labour dispute broke down without agreement overnight, their union said.

The strike, which Service Union United (PAM) says affects around 7,000 security guards began at 6:00 am (0300 GMT) and is due to end 24 hours later.

Airport security staff at the country's main Helsinki-Vantaa airport also took part in the strike in a show of support to the security guards.

The move was anticipated to cause delays for passengers, but there was no traffic at the airport Friday morning as all flights in and out of Finland were halted at midnight due to volcanic ash from Iceland.

Some 170,000 retail sector workers also began a one-day strike Friday after PAM on Monday rejected a reconciliation proposal by the national conciliator.

No dates have been set to continue talks for collective labour deals for either sector.

PAM has warned of further possible strikes by security guards and by the retail sector from Wednesday, April 28, to Saturday, May 1, if no agreements are reached before then.

In neighbouring Sweden, some 3,000 paper industry workers also walked off the job Friday, shutting down six of the country's paper mills.