The Federation of Professional and Managerial Staff YTN has issued a strike warnings concerning universities of applied sciences to the National Conciliator and Sivistysala ry (Sivista). A one-day strikes will be organised unless a new collective agreement is reached in conciliation before then. The Trade Union of Education in Finland OAJ has also issued a strike warnings with the same content.
Updated on 22 April at 13:12
You can find the strike notices issued by YTN and information on the ban on flexibility here.
“Negotiations that have been persistently conducted since late January have unfortunately not produced results. Sivista has put forward proposals that clearly weaken terms and conditions of employment and salary conditions, on the basis of which it has not been possible to conclude an agreement. In order to accelerate conciliation, we have now issued a strike warning,” says Teemu Hankamäki, YTN’s Chair of the Board.
The validity of Sivista’s collective agreement for universities of applied sciences expired yesterday. Today, on 1 April, the parties have moved into a contract-free state, meaning that the obligation to industrial peace has ended. The current terms and conditions of employment will nevertheless continue to be applied until a new agreement enters into force.
“The most difficult issue to be resolved in conciliation concerns the availability allowance for teachers in engineering and transport teaching duties, the removal of which Sivista is demanding. From the perspective of YTN’s members, the issues under conciliation are broader than this, as collective agreements are never agreements on a single provision, but rather comprehensive packages of text, including salary increases,” Hankamäki says.
In the negotiations, YTN is seeking a salary solution focused on general increases that support purchasing power, as well as improvements to terms and conditions of employment and to employees’ position.
The negotiating parties have today held discussions under the leadership of the National Conciliator, and conciliation is currently expected to continue on Monday 6 April.