On Monday, 11 May, the National Conciliator issued a conciliation proposal in the labour dispute concerning the universities of applied sciences. The parties met today, 13 May, to give their responses to the proposal. YTN and OAJ approved the conciliation proposal, but Sivista, representing the employers, decided to reject it. As Sivista rejected the conciliation proposal, no collective agreement can enter into force. The National Conciliator is exploring, together with the parties to the dispute, the possibilities for continuing the conciliation process.
The conciliation proposal would have guaranteed employees at the universities of applied sciences salary increases in line with the so-called general line for a period of three years. The general increase for 2026 would have entered into force on 1 June 2026, and the local salary settlement on 1 September 2026. The proposal included only minor changes to the texts of the collective agreement. When the National Conciliator issues a conciliation proposal, it generally means that both negotiating parties must make concessions. The proposal included some limited deteriorations in employment terms, but not the broader deteriorations previously proposed by Sivista during the negotiations. In addition, the proposal included textual changes that would have improved the position of employees. For these reasons, YTN approved the conciliation proposal.
YTN is disappointed that the conciliation proposal was rejected by Sivista. Sivista’s rejection shows that Sivista is not willing to agree on fair employment terms and salary adjustments for employees at the universities of applied sciences.
YTN has previously issued strike notices concerning the Häme, Vaasa and Lapland universities of applied sciences. As Sivista rejected the conciliation proposal, the announced strikes will take place next week. Due to Sivista’s rejection, it is now even less likely that a new collective agreement could be concluded in such a way that the salary adjustments could enter into force as early as 1 June 2026. In this situation, industrial action is necessary in order to bring the collective agreement—and consequently the salary adjustments—into force as soon as possible.
In addition, YTN has declared a so-called ban on flexibility measures covering all universities of applied sciences as of 8 April 2026. The ban includes a prohibition on overtime, additional work, work-related travel during free time, and the accumulation of flexitime balances. The ban is in force until further notice.