Central Government workers in Finland have launched industrial action for the first time in nearly four decades after collective negotiations collapsed. The Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors (JHL), trade union Pro and the Negotiation Organisation for Public Sector Professionals (JUKO) have imposed bans on overtime, shift swaps, and the accrual of flex hours, effective from 19 March and continuing until further notice. The dispute follows the Office for the Government as Employer (VTML) halting negotiations on 7 March after offering a 6.3% pay rise—well below the general wage increase level of 7.8%. Unions argue that government wages have already fallen behind the broader labour market and that lower-than-average increases undermine recruitment and retention in key public services.
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For more information, please contact Paul de Beer or Oana Ciuca, De Burcht (Scientific Bureau for the Dutch Trade Union Movement) p.t.debeer@uva.nl or the Head of communications at the ETUI, Mehmet Koksal mkoksal@etui.org. For previous full issues of the Collective bargaining newsletter please visit https://www.etui.org/Newsletters/Collective-bargaining-newsletter or consult the archive with all articles in our database at www.cbnarchive.eu.
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