Helsinki (09.01.2006/edited 11.01.2006 – Juhani Artto) The Nordic countries are well-known for their high rate of trade union membership and the essential role collective agreements play in the labour market. Nordic companies have a long tradition of dealing constructively with union organisations. Therefore one would assume that Nordic companies would apply the same pattern in their operations in the Baltic States.
However, ground-breaking studies by the Finnish researcher Markku Sippola, show that another company policy towards trade unions also exists.
Collective agreements are thin on the ground in Baltic subsidiaries of Nordic companies. The low rate of union membership is not the only factor explaining the scarcity of collective agreements as in many cases the companies themselves have discourages their employees from organising.