JHL (18.12.2014 - Heikki Jokinen) The hardening attitudes of employers is challenging the whole labour market negotiation system, says Jarkko Eloranta, chairperson of Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors JHL.
By way of example he mentions the recent and much publicised dismissal of the ABB Helsinki factory shop steward, which led to a major debate and a wave of protests in Finland. According to Eloranta JHL activists report ever increasing pressures on those who represent employees.
”This happens in situations when shop stewards are simply doing their job as part of a local negotiating and bargaining system, as they should do.”
If we allow this development to go on like this, local negotiations will soon become hamstrung, Eloranta warns. ”The practical result will unfortunately be that these contradictions will lead to more cases of industrial action than we have today.”
The reason for the hardening climate on the working places is economic insecurity, Eloranta says. Employers are dismissing employees, changing their organisations, increasing outsourcing and trying to replace collective agreements with less costly for them.
In this situation shop stewards are placed in a very difficult position. The growing demand for more effective production and increased stress also creates challenges in terms of occupational health.
”All this is creating an atmosphere of contradiction in working places.”
This negative development is also evident JHL’s sector. Eloranta hopes, however, that the system could work without shop stewards having to fear dismissals and other unpleasant consequences when carrying out their duties.