Helsinki (16.12.2013 - Heikki Jokinen) Riku Aalto, the president of the Metalworkers' Union, put forward the idea for closer cooperation or even amalgamation between industrial unions. He spoke at the Metalworkers' Union National Council meeting.
In particular Aalto mentioned the deepening of cooperation under the auspices of the Council of Finnish Industrial Unions (Teollisuuden palkansaajat TP). This body is a cooperative umbrella organisation made up of 13 industrial unions. Aalto is the chairperson of TP.
Aalto cited falling membership dues, which in turn leads to a reduction of staff in union offices, as a reason for closer cooperation. "We have to be able to consider critically our activities and how to organise these", he stressed.
"Our economic situation is so far so good that we are not forced to do anything. We have time to consider things in peace."
Increased cooperation on the employers' side is also a reason for unions to work together. In this connection Aalto mentioned agreement shopping, whereby employers try to get cheaper collective agreements by changing the union they negotiate with.
"We have a full selection of possibilities, should we decide to seek cooperation with one or more unions. One possibility is not to do anything. Or, in fact, we could just make those staff cuts I already mentioned."
"We can also look for a strategic partnership. This might mean the merging of some services with one or more unions. Unemployment funds would be one of the most natural ways to proceed in this field."
Full merger is also possible
One solution could be a full merger with other unions, Aalto outlines. But he also says that it is a difficult and controversial issue. Five years ago the Metalworkers' Union was one of the six industrial unions planning to amalgamate.
Eventually, four of the unions withdraw from the merger, including the Metalworkers' Union. Though 55.6 per cent of the union members supported amalgamation in the ballot, in the union Congress in 2009 a minority was able to prevent the project proceeding due to a rule stating that a three quarter qualified majority is needed for such decision.
The Industrial Union TEAM is a result of the industrial union amalgamating project. It was established in 2010 when the Media Union and the Chemical Workers' Union united into one union.
"It is now five years ago since the planned industrial union. The question is whether it would be time once again to begin to discuss union cooperation in order to strengthen our work in regard to safeguarding members' interests. In any case we have to think carefully about what kind of measures are needed to keep the union strong in the future, too. And of course we want to be stronger."
Aalto also stressed that now as there is no collective bargaining in the next two years, it is all the more reason to focus on how to develop the unions own work and business.