JHL (05.03.2013 - Heikki Jokinen) The unions representing municipal employees are ready to agree, even at short notice, to a centralized labour market agreement, if the terms and goals set by the unions are achieved.
A centralized agreement would pave the way for the planned local government reform, the unions believe. The Finnish government’s reform plans include several mergers of municipalities, which is a major and controversial issue in Finnish politics at the moment. It is proving to be very difficult to implement.
Municipal employees are not prepared to negotiate on the proposal for a zero per cent salary rise, as offered by the leaders of the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK. There has been no wage drift in the public sector, unlike in the private sector, the unions say. For this reason municipal salaries are de facto falling behind the general development of wages and salaries.
This year the purchasing power of wage earners has been diluted mainly due to the tax increases already introduced by the government. There have been attempts to force temporary lay-offs in many municipalities, too. As an alternative to these draconian measures other extreme proposals aimed at cutting one's own income have been put forward. In some cases there has even been some elements of blackmailing, the unions say.
The existing framework agreement created by the central labour market organisations is still valid until the end of October. In many parts of the public sector it is valid until the first quarter of 2014. So there is no need to rush into things, say the unions.
To achieve the centralized labour market agreement the support of the Finnish government is essential. This would underline and guarantee the government's commitment to fostering good, solid industrial relations especially in the current economic climate.