The universities’ general collective agreement is in force until 31 March 2022. Negotiations about a new collective agreement, which will enter into force on 1 April 2022, will begin in February–March 2022.
Before the parties to collective negotiations sit down at the negotiating table, each party will set its own negotiation targets. JUKO, the Negotiation Organization or Public Sector Professionals, which represents employees, is currently setting its own negotiation targets. There are many such targets, covering pay rises, working time, work welfare and other questions of the nature of employment. They all form a whole, consisting of both qualitative and euro-and-cent targets.
All Finnish universities are party to the collective agreement and about 33 000 employees fall within its remit. Once the collective agreement negotiations begin, the public is informed regularly about their progress. After target setting and some informal discussion, the actual negotiation stage beings.
The aim is always to reach agreement before the agreement expires. That is not always possible, leading to a scenario in which no agreement is in force. If that happens, collective action is also possible. There are various forms of collective action, of which a strike is the method of last resort. Strike action is only taken if it is no longer possible to defend members’ legitimate interests at the negotiating table. For example, in the 2018 negotiations, strike action had to be taken.
The right to strike is strongly protected by law in Finland. If collective action is required, the union protects its members, because strike action is always the union’s decision, meaning the union bears responsibility for the risk of legality of the action.
Anna Zibellini
työmarkkinalakimies
Akavan erityisalat
