A picket guard outside Meconet’s factory in Vantaa. The Industrial Union issued a new strike warning impacting 50 companies. LEHTIKUVA
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The Finnish Industrial Union (Teollisuusliitto) and the Union of Professional Employees (Pro) have issued strike warnings for late January, impacting 50 companies across Finland’s technology and chemical industries. If negotiations remain deadlocked, the strikes are set to begin on 27 January and continue through 1 February, affecting over 13,000 workers.
The strike warnings come amid prolonged disputes between unions and employers over wage increases and broader collective agreements.
The Finnish Industrial Union has been negotiating with employer representatives in the technology and chemical sectors since September 2024, but no agreements have been reached.
Teollisuusliitto is demanding a 10% pay rise to address workers’ declining purchasing power, a key issue for its members.
“Our members need reasonable, purchasing power-improving wage increases to strengthen their livelihoods and ensure security in daily life,” said Riku Aalto, Chairperson of Teollisuusliitto, in a statement.
The chemical industry dispute involves broader disagreements over the terms of collective agreements, while the technology sector negotiations focus on setting new wage benchmarks after previous agreements expired late last year.
The strike warnings include prominent companies such as Metso, Wärtsilä, and Valmet, as well as other major employers in the affected sectors. A detailed list of companies has been published on Teollisuusliitto’s website.
Separately, Pro announced strike actions targeting 21 companies in the technology sector, coinciding with Teollisuusliitto’s planned strikes.
Both unions expressed frustration over delays in reaching agreements, warning that prolonged negotiations only further postpone urgently needed wage increases.
The Federation of Finnish Technology Industries and the Chemical Industry Federation have expressed disappointment over the unions’ strike warnings.
Jarkko Ruohoniemi, CEO of the Federation of Finnish Technology Industries, stated that the employers’ side has proposed significant wage increases but noted that unions have deemed these offers insufficient.
“Both sides have yet to align on what would be a realistic level for wage adjustments in the coming years,” Ruohoniemi said.
The National Conciliator will mediate between the parties, with talks scheduled to resume on Monday. Both unions and employer representatives have signaled willingness to continue negotiations in hopes of averting widespread industrial action.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
