16 September, 2011Three Finnish union organizations hold negotiations with the Technology Industries' employers' organisation in close coordination. The wage rise goal is four per cent at the minimum.
FINLAND: Three union organizations in Finland, the Metalworkers' Union, the white collar workers' union Pro and the Federation of Professional and Managerial Staff YTN, representing some 250,000 wage and salary earners in the metal industry, have agreed on common goals and pledged to act in unison during this current round of collective bargaining. It is the first time that the separate employee groups are combining forces in this way.
The unions aim for a one and a half year agreement with a two-stage pay rise. The first would mean an increase of 0.67 Euro per hour or 110 Euro per month. For employees in the higher pay bracket the rise would be at least 4 per cent.
The second pay rise would boost wages and salaries by 0.34 Euro per hour or 60 euro per month - an increase of 2 per cent at least.
"We seek common negotiation strength without talking about a union merger," says Riku Aalto, President of the Metalworkers' Union. "In case no negotiation result is reached the unions are prepared to defend their goals through joint actions."
This kind of cooperation during collective bargaining negotiations is a first for the unions involved. The quantitative and qualitative negotiation goals have been jointly prepared, and the administrative bodies of all the three unions have discussed the goals. Each union will individually negotiate their respective collective agreements.
The organizations have agreed to stick together in the event that they need to adjust their demands. Common qualitative demands concern more vacation time or time off for employees near retirement. All three organizations also have their own more specific proposals and demands.
In recent months, the employer association, the Federation of Finnish Technology Industries, has warned of companies facing serious economic difficulties in the near future. However, the trade union organizations consider the competitiveness of the metal industries good at the moment.