Updated on 19th March.
On 13th March, the Federation of Professional and Managerial Staff YTN announced a new strike warning to chosen companies in the technology industry. The strikes will take place on Friday 28th March and Friday 4th April.
On 13th February, YTN announced a strike warning for the collective agreement for senior salaried employees (ylempi toimihenkilö) in the technology industry.
This warning concerns strikes on Fridays 28th February, 7th March, 14th March and 21st March, unless an agreement on the renewal of the collective agreement is reached before then.
In addition, the YTN announced a ban on accumulating excess working hours (bonus hours, liukuma in Finnish) and a ban on work-related traveling during leisure time from 14th February to 22nd March, which also apply to the collective agreement for senior salaried managers in the technology industry.
Are you affected by a potential strike? For more information, see the YTN website at this link (in Finnish).
Due to the strike warning, the national conciliator has been mediating the labor dispute since February 14th.
Why did YTN issue a strike warning, Teemu Hankamäki, Labour Market Director of TEK and YTN's Chief Negotiator?
"YTN's negotiations with the employers in the technology industry have been going on for a long time and no result has been achieved. Now a new way is being sought and because of the strike warning, the national mediator is obliged to invite the parties to mediation."
What is the YTN seeking?
"The primary objective is to safeguard the development of members' purchasing power through adequate general salary increases and to improve, through contractual provisions, well-being at work and job satisfaction. TEK members expect pay increases. According to a survey carried out in January, 71% of TEK members expect the overall increase in the contract to be at least around 2.5% per year."
How have the negotiations progressed so far?
"YTN has been negotiating since mid-September – a full five months – and there have been numerous rounds of negotiations. Unfortunately, no final agreement has been reached even on the textual issues. This is due in particular to the fact that the employer has ambitions that weaken working conditions, which is unacceptable. The negotiations have by no means gone completely down the drain and there is tentative agreement on a number of textual changes."
Have salry increases been negotiated?
"In the absence of agreement on the text, the employer refuses to discuss pay increases. There has therefore been no negotiation on the salary increase structure, let alone the level of the increase, in the case of the technology industry agreement. However, the YTN has already given its salary increase targets before Christmas."
Could YTN be the opener of the round?
"In theory, yes, but in practice it is more difficult. It seems that the Technology Industry Employers of Finland have, at least for the time being, chosen the employees' Industrial Union as their so-called main opening partner. So it largely depends on the employers' assessment of the situation. It is perfectly possible for the YTN to make a head opening, but the contractual terms and conditions must also fall into place for us."
Will the announced strikes take place?
"That remains to be seen. The aim now is to get a settlement proposal that is accepted by both sides and avoids strikes."
What should a TEK member do if a strike does take place?
"The strikes in question are for one Friday. Being on strike is as simple as not doing any work on the day of the strike. You can use the time off to spend with family, friends or hobbies, for example."