New collective agreement for the architectural design sector – strikes are cancelled and ban on flexibility ends
Senior salaried employees in the architectural design sector have a new collective agreement. This means that the strikes previously announced at two companies in the sector (Sarc+Sigge Arkkitehdit Oy and Arco Architecture Company Oy) for May 28 and May 30 are cancelled. The ban on flexibility that applied to the entire sector also ends.
On Sunday, May 25, the National Conciliator issued a settlement proposal in the labor dispute concerning the architectural design sector. The Association of Finnish Architects’ Offices (ATL), Service Sector Employers Palta, and YTN have approved the proposal.
The new collective agreement for senior salaried employees in the architectural design sector is valid from May 26, 2025. The new collective agreement for the sector is valid for three years, until January 31, 2028. However, it can be terminated to end after the third year, on January 31, 2027.
Wage increases for 2025, 2026, and 2027 will primarily be agreed upon locally. If no local agreement is reached, the increases will be as follows:
- In 2025, salaries will be increased by a 1.5% general raise on September 1, 2025.
- In 2026, salaries will be increased by a 1.7% general raise and a 0.2% company-specific increase on August 1, 2026.
- In 2027, salaries will be increased by a 1.8% general raise and a 0.6% company-specific increase on March 1, 2027.
The contents of the agreement will be published as soon as possible.
Negotiations
The contracting parties are the Federation of Professional and Managerial Staff YTN as well as the Association of Finnish Architects’ Offices ATL and the Service Sector Employers PALTA representing employers. The terms of employment, such as salary increases, working hours, sick pay, compensation for travelling outside of regular working hours, holiday pay and paid parental leaves, to be complied with in the sector have been agreed on in the Collective agreement.
26.5.
Late on Sunday, May 25, the National Conciliator issued a settlement proposal in the labor dispute concerning senior salaried employees in the architectural design sector, particularly regarding salary increases. The contracting parties—YTN (Federation of Professional and Managerial Staff), the Association of Finnish Architects’ Offices (ATL), and the Service Sector Employers Palta—reviewed the proposal and provided their responses by May 26, 8 PM.
The Association of Finnish Architects’ Offices (ATL), Service Sector Employers Palta, and YTN have approved the proposal. The ban on flexible working ens and the strikes planned for May 28 and May 30 are cancelled.
23.5.
Mediation in the architectural design sector’s pay dispute continued all day yesterday, Thursday, May 22. The mediation resumed today, Friday, May 23, at 12:00, and the next session at the National Conciliator’s Office is scheduled for Sunday, May 25, around 5 PM.
20.5.
The mediation of the labor dispute in the architectural design sector continued on May 20 and will resume on Thursday morning, May 22, starting at 9:00 AM.
16.5.
Mediation in the labor dispute concerning the YTN architectural design sector took place on Friday, May 16. During the mediation, the parties discussed their views on the state of the sector and the proposed salary solution. The mediation will continue on Tuesday, May 20 at 10:00 a.m.
30.4.
After negotiation yesterday it seems that the negotiating road is blocked for the time being. The employer side is not making a salary rise offer to the architectural design sector. The YTN’s objective remains a salary solution that safeguards purchasing power. A survey of members in the sector shows that there is no acceptance of a salary solution that is weaker than in other sectors. Negotiations are expected to continue on 13 May.
16.4.
The YTN architectural design negotiations on 15 April failed to produce a negotiated outcome. The problem is the salary settlement. According to the employer, there is no salary settlement for architects in line with the general line (7.8% for three years and 5% general increases). Recently, salary settlements have been seen in a number of contract sectors for senior salaried employees. The YTN’s objective is to secure a salary solution that safeguards purchasing power for architects as well. The parties’ views on a reasonable salary settlement are still very far apart. The next bargaining is on 29 April. Before then, watch your email and answer the sectoral target/pressure readiness questionnaire.
27.3.
The collective agreement negotiations for the architectural design sector under YTN will continue again on April 1st. Although the textual issues have been resolved, no agreement has yet been reached on salaries.
This is due to the fact that no consensus has been reached in the Technology industry regarding the wage increase, and strikes are still ongoing there. According to the employers, the wage settlement in the export industries sets the framework for salary solutions in other sectors as well, which means that conditions for, among other things, an agreement on architects’ salaries are currently lacking.
23.1.
Negotiations on the collective agreement in the architectural design sector continued. The textual issues are basically finalised, but as far as the wage settlement is concerned, we have to wait for the wage opening of the export sector. As the employer side insists on the so-called export model, whereby the export sector have to determine the upper level of the wage settlement, there are currently no conditions at the negotiating table for the architectural design sector to reach an agreement on the wage settlement. The next negotiation is scheduled for Tuesday 28 January.
5.12.
This week, a preliminary agreement was reached on textual issues, including local agreement. Negotiations on the wage settlement and pay increases are next. Negotiations will next resume on 19 December.
25.11.
Negotiators met and continued to reconcile the specified textual issues. Solutions to some of the issues are in sight. Negotiations will continue on 28.11.
15.11.
The negotiators presented their negotiating objectives. Employer’s list includes clear deterioration of working conditions, with the parties’ views quite far apart.
4.11.
Negotiations opened with a comparison of information on the situation in the sector, including lay-offs, wages and the economic situation in the offices. The negotiators discussed the general economic outlook, including estimates of inflation and purchasing power. Negotiating objectives at headline level were presented.
Arkkitehtisuunnittelualan ylempien työehtosopimus 2022-2024 (in Finnish)
>> Contact information for architectural design sector.
Information about the sector
Senior salaried employees in the architectural design sector are architects by education and work as experts and designers in architects’ offices. Based on the personnel, the biggest companies in the sector are:
- ARCO Architecture Company Oy
- Sarc + Sigge Arkkitehdit Oy
- ONE Architects Oy
- Lukkaroinen Arkkitehdit Oy
- JKMM Arkkitehdit Oy
- PES-Arkkitehdit Oy
- Arkkitehtitoimisto Olla
- Arkkitehtitoimisto Tähti-Set Oy
- Lundén Architecture Oy
- UKI Arkkitehdit Oy
YTN’s goal is a good and fair work life
- Away from underpayment. The salaries in the architectural design sector drag at a lower level than those of other senior salaried employees.
- Well-being at work by flexible working hours solution. Good means are, for example, flexible working hours, working hours bank and the possibility for telecommuting.
- All time used for work must be compensated.
- Competitiveness from top expertise. Companies must invest in the development of their personnel’s competence.
- Shop stewards must have sufficient rights to access information as well as operational requirements.
- Local agreeing should be fair. Generally local agreements are to be made between shop stewards and companies in writing.