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Blog: In a society of hard measures

On Tuesday, April 22nd, the employee side issued a strike warning for a one-day strike at the Tampere University on May 7th. This was done to expedite the stalled collective agreement negotiations. Upon hearing this, the university employer announced massive countermeasures. Firstly, the employer announced the indefinite suspension of the employer’s collection of union membership …

Blog: University staff deserve pay raises in line with the general trend

The high-quality research conducted by university staff and the teaching based on it enable Finland’s competitive development and innovation activities. Teaching at universities is based on research, and as the level of research rises, so does the level of expertise. In the collective agreement negotiations, JUKO aims for general increases that improve purchasing power for …

Blog: Solving the attractiveness of research careers and Finland’s competitiveness

Finland desperately needs growth. Growth is generated by skilled and innovative professionals. Universities educate these professionals, and high-class professionals who generate growth and innovations work at universities. This has also been highlighted in the final report of Risto Murto’s working group’s Kasvuriihi project, which states that the creative research conducted at universities forms the basis …

Blog: Something is wrong, seriously wrong in Finland

The salary increase of 10-15% that a director can negotiate at any time – even with quite mediocre leadership – is, usually, impossible to achieve for others. The timing for increases is never right; either we are heading into worse times, deep in a slump, or we haven’t quite recovered, which doesn’t really allow for …

Blog: More resources for teaching and research

Universities have always played an important role in producing new knowledge. A large part of scientific research is still carried out in universities. Of course, many companies invest heavily in research and product development, for example in the pharmaceutical and military industries. Nevertheless, research carried out in universities still provides the basis for most innovation. …

Blog: Is the university working time agreement being taken back 30 years?

Finnish Education Employers (FEE) board member and Rector of the University of Helsinki, Sari Lindblom, opened a public debate on the university collective bargaining game (article in Finnish). The article makes it embarrassingly clear how those in university management are distanced from the reality of university work. I for one would like to believe that …