The failed wage negotiations between employer representatives and trade unions in the technology and industry sector over the weekend will likely result in strikes in February that will spread to other key sectors in the country.
Based on almost 10% inflation and using the recent German wage settlement as a benchmark, the Industrial Union demanded a 5% increase in salaries per year, which was even backed by the Technology Industry Employers of Finland.
However, because the employer representatives of the industry sector instead proposed a 6.6% increase over a two-year period, this was shot down by the Industrial Union, and while negotiations while to resume on Tuesday, the unions have announced that a ‘no-deal’ situation will result in strikes to be held from Wednesday (1 February).’
These announcements have already spilt over other sectors as other unions have been making preparations to launch industrial action.
The Trade Union Pro and the Federation of Professional and Managerial Staff (YTN) have announced three-day strikes in early February.
At the same time, the Service Union United (PAM), a trade union for private service sector workers, has threatened to join in the second week of the month. Its almost 200,000 members work in retail trade, property services, security services and in tourism, restaurant and leisure services.
Arguably, the most detrimental strike for the country’s exports would be the one imposed by the Finnish Transport Workers’ Union (AKT) representing 45,000 transport professionals.
The majority of collective agreements in the transport sector expire on Tuesday, and according to sources used in the media, transport workers are getting ready for strikes in mid-February, targeting trucking and the country’s harbours.
(Pekka Vänttinen | EURACTIV.com)
Source: euractiv.com
