YTN Universities of Applied Sciences
The YTN Universities of Applied Sciences consists of universities of applied sciences, general education institutions, vocational schools, music schools, as well as adult education centres.
There are three collective agreements in the sector. The collective agreement of the private teaching sector, the collective agreement of Vocational Adult Education Centres and the collective agreement of the Universities of Applied Sciences (in Finnish).
Universities of applied sciences were separated from the collective agreement of the private teaching sector in early 2024, and the staff of the universities of applied sciences received their own collective agreement.
Collective agreement negotiation situation
Universities of Applied Sciences
Updated on 13 May at 14.00
On Monday, 11 May, the National Conciliator issued a conciliation proposal in the labour dispute concerning the universities of applied sciences. On 13 May, YTN and OAJ approved the proposal, but Sivista, representing the employers, decided to reject it. As Sivista rejected the conciliation proposal, no collective agreement can enter into force and industrial action will continue. Read more
Ongoing industrial action:
YTN has issued several strike notices. You can find them here. The 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. YTN has declared a so‑called ban on flexibility covering all universities of applied sciences as of 8 April 2026. The ban on flexibility is in force for an indefinite term.
Current negotiation situation
The collective agreement negotiations were referred to conciliation on 1 April due to strike notices issued by YTN and OAJ. Since then, conciliation has taken place several days a week, and the work continues at an intensive pace. As a rule, the parties meet with the conciliator on a daily basis, unless there is a need to take a break in between, for example if certain issues require further clarification or consultation with background groups. Conciliation meetings typically last several hours per day. The aim is therefore to actively seek a resolution.
Background:
Negotiations on the nationwide collective agreement for universities of applied sciences have not resulted in an agreement, and the collective agreement expired on 31 March 2026. Negotiations have continued throughout the beginning of the year, but issues related to contractual texts and the salary solution remain unresolved. The employer side, represented by Sivista, has pursued objectives that would weaken terms and conditions of employment, and its unwillingness to negotiate has made the talks challenging. YTN has presented concrete proposals for solutions and has been prepared to make constructive compromises in order to reach an agreement.
There is currently no valid collective agreement in force in the sector. However, there is no immediate cause for concern regarding terms and conditions of employment. The provisions of the expired collective agreement will continue to be applied on the basis of the post binding effect until a new agreement has been concluded. The post binding effect does not, however, cover the obligation to maintain industrial peace. Various industrial actions are therefore permitted in order to accelerate the collective agreement negotiations.
Useful links:
Collective agreement for universities of applied sciences
YTN is a contracting party to the universally binding collective agreement of universities of applied sciences. It employs approximately 11,000 employees in 21 universities of applied sciences operating in the administrative sector of the Ministry of Education and Culture. We negotiate the collective agreement of the universities of applied sciences together with Finnish Education Employers, representing the employers, and the Trade Union of Education in Finland, OAJ, representing the employees.
YTN started its operations in the private teaching sector and universities of applied sciences in August 2022, and as a result of lengthy work, a collective agreement was reached for senior salaried employees in the sector. There are two staff groups in the collective agreement: expert and support staff, and teaching staff.
The YTN affiliate members now have employee representatives based on the collective agreement, that is, chief shop stewards or shop stewards. With the new collective agreement for universities of applied sciences, the working conditions and terms of all highly skilled employees working in the sector can be developed on an equal footing. In case of possible disputes, the employee representatives will also be there to support the members.
Who are the YTN affiliate members working in the sector?
Our members work in universities of applied sciences in teaching, expert and support staff positions. Their work is characterised by independence, responsibility and expert skills and a higher education degree. The largest member groups in the private teaching sector are graduate engineers, economists, members of Akava Special Branches, engineers, members of the Finnish Union of University Researchers and Teachers (FUURT) and Bachelors of Business Administration. Our group also includes social science professionals, lawyers, psychologists and the members of Loimu and Finnish Association of Academic Agronomists.
Get involved in activities in the sector!
In order for us to specifically promote your matters, the preparation of the negotiation objectives and other matters takes place in the background groups composed by actives of the sector’s workplaces. The background group is composed of shop stewards, contact persons and staff association actives working in the sector.
At the same time, the flow of information becomes more efficient and members have the opportunity to participate more actively in the development of their working conditions.