What is a strike warning?
A strike warning is a statutory notice of an upcoming strike. The strike will take place if no agreement is reached in the collective agreement negotiations before the start of the strike. A strike warning does not yet cause any actions at workplaces or for individuals.
What is the venymiskielto (prohibition on flexibility)?
A so‑called venymiskielto (prohibition on flexibility) is in force at all universities of applied sciences. This includes a ban on overtime work, additional work, travelling for work purposes during free time, and accumulating flexitime balances.
All work‑related travel must therefore take place within regular working hours, and working time balances must not be increased for the benefit of the employer. You should only work normal‑length working days.
The venymiskielto is in force until further notice as of 8 April 2026.
When will the strike take place, if it is implemented?
You can find the announced strikes here.
If your workplace is not on the list, you will continue your work as normal. If you are unsure, contact your shop steward or, secondarily, YTN’s strike duty at lakko@ytn.fi.
When will it be known whether the strike will take place?
The strike will take place unless otherwise announced. Employees at workplaces subject to the strike should be prepared to participate. If an agreement is reached and the strike is cancelled, this will be announced separately.
Who does the strike concern?
The strike concerns all employees working at the universities of applied sciences covered by the strike, unless certain units have been explicitly excluded.
The strike has been declared specifically for the work tasks, so an individual’s union membership is irrelevant. No one is allowed to perform work subject to the strike.
How will income be secured during the strike?
YTN’s unions will pay strike allowance to their members during the strike. The allowance is EUR 90 per day and is taxable income. The allowance is applied for through a separate strike allowance system.
The allowance can be applied for once the strike has ended. Read more about strike allowance.
Why has a strike warning been issued?
The strike warning has been issued because negotiations on a new collective agreement have not led to a result. Negotiations have continued throughout the beginning of the year, but text issues and the salary solution remain unresolved. The employer side, represented by Sivista, has put forward objectives that weaken terms and conditions of employment and has shown reluctance to negotiate, making the negotiations difficult. YTN has made concrete solution proposals and has been prepared for constructive compromises, but Sivista has firmly adhered to objectives that weaken employment conditions. The strike warning and a possible strike aim to accelerate negotiations.
What does YTN want?
YTN and its member unions seek salary increases for professional and managerial staff that safeguard purchasing power and fair terms and conditions of employment. This means a level of salary increase exceeding forecast inflation and tax changes.
YTN wants salary increases to be implemented as general increases paid to all employees. YTN does not accept any deteriorations in terms and conditions of employment.
What has the employer offered?
The employer has not been willing to present a balanced comprehensive solution. The proposed solution contains elements that weaken employees’ terms and conditions of employment and does not take into account the proposals of the employee side.
Why has no solution been reached through negotiations?
Negotiations began in January. The employer side represented by Sivista has pursued objectives that weaken terms and conditions of employment and has been reluctant to negotiate, which has made reaching an agreement difficult.
YTN has sought a negotiated solution, but the other party has not been willing to reach one.
Are the industrial actions lawful?
The industrial actions are fully lawful, as the obligation to industrial peace is no longer in force following the expiry of the collective agreement.
Do I have to participate in the industrial actions?
Employees working at universities of applied sciences subject to the strike are expected to participate. Participation signals opposition to unilateral employer decisions and to the weakening of terms and conditions of employment. By breaking the strike, you support the employer’s unwillingness to conclude a new collective agreement on fair terms.
Do I need to inform my employer of my participation?
No. YTN has taken care of the necessary notifications. Participation in a strike is a legal right and the employer cannot and must not prevent it.
Where are possible work permits applied for?
Work permits are always applied for by the employer. YTN’s central strike committee processes applications within five working days. Applications should be sent to tyoluvat@ytn.fi.
Will I receive salary during the strike?
No salary is paid during the strike. YTN’s unions pay strike allowance to their members.
What should I do if I have project work on a strike day?
All work tasks at universities of applied sciences are subject to the strike, including project work. Project work is not performed in advance or on the strike day.
Does the strike affect my annual leave?
The commencement of a strike does not interrupt annual leave that has already begun. The employer must pay holiday pay and holiday bonus as normal before the start of leave.
If the strike starts before the agreed annual leave, the employee is on strike and the leave is postponed. If the strike and pre-announced leave start on the same day, the employee is considered to be on annual leave.
Annual leave cannot be scheduled to start during a strike.
What if I am on a business trip during the strike?
If you have departed on a business trip before the strike begins, you will return from the trip as normal. During the trip, participation in the strike applies and no work is performed.
No business trips are undertaken during the strike, and no business travel or travel arrangements are agreed upon for the strike period. Work performed abroad has been excluded from the industrial action (see more below).
What about work performed abroad or an overseas business trip?
Work tasks performed abroad have been excluded from the industrial action. This means that if you are on a business trip abroad or have a planned trip on the strike day, you may continue your work tasks and travel as normal.
What if I fall ill?
If you fall ill before the start of the strike, sick pay must be paid for the duration of the strike. You must immediately submit medical certificates or equivalent documentation to your employer.
If you fall ill after the strike has begun, sick pay does not have to be paid for strike days. You are instead entitled to sickness allowance under the national health insurance scheme.
The employer is threatening or intends to collect lists of those participating in the strike. What should I do?
The employer has no right to pressure employees or prohibit participation in industrial actions. Threats or the collection of name lists must not be accepted. Participation in lawful industrial actions carries no sanctions and is fully protected by law.
If you observe such conduct, contact your shop steward.
What does a strike mean?
During a strike, no work is performed, either at the workplace or outside it.
The strike is declared specifically for the work itself, meaning it applies to all employees regardless of their union membership.
What is a strike guard?
A strike guard is a union member who supervises the implementation of the strike and maintains order during the strike.
Strike guards manage order outside the workplace, distribute strike information, inform those arriving at the workplace about the strike, monitor employer actions and report observations to the strike committee.
Strike guards have no right to prevent anyone from entering the workplace or to gather inside the workplace without permission.
Can I act as a strike guard myself?
Yes, of course. It is encouraged. You may act as a strike guard also at workplaces where you do not work yourself. If you are interested, contact local shop stewards or YTN’s customer service.
How should a YTN‑organised employee act during strikes organised by other organisations?
Employees who do not belong to the organisation implementing the strike, or who belong to an organisation but are not covered by the strike, are not obliged to perform work tasks subject to the strike.
However, under the law they have the right to refuse to perform strike‑related tasks that they do not normally carry out. This is known as the so‑called principle of neutrality. This conduct is also expected of them by those participating in the strike and by their own organisation.
Where can I get more information or answers to my questions?
Questions regarding industrial action can be sent to the negotiating organisation’s duty email at lakko@ytn.fi or, from 2 April onwards, by calling YTN’s strike duty at +358 9 427 277 66. Read the opening hours of the duty service.
Up-to-date information is available by following YTN’s sector-specific bulletins, YTN’s website and YTN’s social media channels. If you have not received email bulletins, please check your membership details and spam folder.
Questions concerning teaching staff
Recording the hours affected by the strike in the working hours plan
Work affected by the strike will not be carried out in advance or on the strike day. The strike day is calculated as one working day (8 hours) at the university of applied sciences. With regard to strike days, the usual practice of the university of applied sciences related to absences applies to changes to the teacher’s tasks and the working hours plan.
Can tasks subject to the strike be carried out afterwards?
Discussions on carrying out tasks subject to absence will be held with your supervisor only after the strike has ended. The employer may issue an order about tasks subject to absence due to the strike and allocate the required amount of additional working time to them. Work subject to the strike will only be carried out afterwards if the employer allocates working time separately. In this case, the teacher acts as “substitutes themselves”. Otherwise, tasks that have been subject to the strike will not be carried out afterwards.
How does the employer calculate the loss of income during the strike at a university of applied sciences?
A strike is unpaid absence. One strike day will result in a loss of one daily salary. The daily salary is calculated from the monthly salary using the number of calendar days of the month as the divider. Unpaid leave reduces the salary of the leave period after it has lasted for at least 14 calendar days in one or more periods during the employment year.
What should I do if there is project work on the day of the strike?
All tasks at universities of applied sciences are covered by the strike, including project work. Project work will not be carried out in advance or on the strike day.