JHL (21.11.2017 - Heikki Jokinen) Employees in the public sector are entitled to the same kind of pay rise as those working in industry, the JHL Union Council announced at its meeting in November.
The Union Council does not share the employers’ view that pay rises for those working in the public sector and in services financed through public spending should be extremely moderate in the ongoing collective bargaining round.
Now is the time to address the issue of purchasing power and positive development of income for those working in the public sector.
The Finnish technology industry reached a pay deal at the beginning of November. Their new collective agreement sets a 3.2 per cent pay rise for the next two years. Following on from this agreement some other collective agreements in the private sector have already agreed on the same level of pay rise.
The Union Council of JHL, the Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors says it is clear that balancing the public finances is an issue for society as a whole, not only for those working in the public sector.
Growth in productivity and export can only take place with the support of public services, the Council also stresses.
Another goal for the ongoing collective bargaining round is to improve wellbeing at work. Productivity will rise when wellbeing at work is taken into account and employees have the possibility to influence their work and working hours, the Union Council says.
JHL has some 60 collective agreements which cover various sectors and companies. Almost all of these are set to expire at the end of January 2018.