Tekijä (09.10.2024 - Heikki Jokinen) In September, the Orpo-Purra Government published its proposal for local bargaining for company level agreements. This proposal opens the gates for dumping the terms of work.
Up until now, company level bargaining has been based on nationwide collective agreements. It is only allowed for the union shop stewards and the companies belonging to the employers' association.
Now, the right-wing Government is extending the right for local bargaining to all companies. Also, someone other than the union shop steward could make a deal on behalf of employees.
- Our understanding is that legislative amendments will significantly change the direction of working life. This is a way to erode the system of agreements and their generally binding character, the Industrial Union president Riku Aalto says.
The Industrial Union is not against company level bargaining. On the contrary, it is one of the forerunners in supporting it. Now, workers can get support from the union and the negotiator is the shop steward, who is often experienced and trained in these issues.
The Government plan is to go round this in unorganised companies. There, employers could more easily dictate the terms of work.