JHL, Jyty and JUKO file a strike warning concerning the cities of Tampere and Kuopio during municipal sector’s collective agreement negotiations
The municipal sector’s main negotiation organisations representing employees, JAU (comprised of JHL and Jyty) and JUKO, have filed a strike warning concerning the cities of Tampere and Kuopio to Local Government and County Employers KT and the National Conciliator.
The two-day strike in Tampere and Kuopio is set to begin on Tuesday 29 March at 12.01 am. It is set to end on Wednesday 30 March at 11.59 pm. If the parties have not reached agreement before this, the strike will begin.
With the industrial actions, employee organisations aim to speed up the municipal sector’s collective agreement negotiations in order for a negotiation result to be reached. The current situation in the municipal-sector negotiations is that conciliation of the labour dispute has started, led by the National Conciliator.
The strike warning applies to nearly all municipal-sector agreements: General collective agreement for the municipal sector (KVTES), health and social services sector agreement (SOTE), and the agreements for the education sector (OVTES), hourly paid personnel (TTES), physicians (LS), and technical personnel (TS). In addition, for JHL’s and Jyty’s part, the strike warning applies to the collective agreement for employers’ association Avaintyönantajat Avainta ry which municipal-owned companies comply with.
Work tasks that must be performed in order to protect people’s life, health or assets are ruled out of the strike.
This is already the second strike warning declared by JHL, Jyty and JUKO in the municipal sector’s collective agreement negotiations. The first strike warning concerned a two-day strike in Jyväskylä and Rovaniemi on 23–24 March. In addition, a ban on overtime and shift swaps concerning the entire municipal sector is in place between 7 and 13 March.
– Our goal, of course, is to reach an agreement, not to be on strike. However, the pay of municipal-sector professionals, too, must be at the right level in relation to their work duties. It is now time for significant raises, Trade Union Jyty’s President Jonna Voima states.
– Several occupations in the municipal sector are already suffering from or threatened by a shortage of labour. If the terms and conditions of employment are not competitive, it will be even more difficult to attract employees. We are at a crucial time to show appreciation to municipal work, also in terms of pay, JUKO’s Board Chair Olli Luukkainen (The Trade Union of Education in Finland OAJ) demands.
– According to research, especially early childhood education and care, schools, and the health and social services sector are going through a crisis. Children, youth and families are going through a crisis. The public-sector personnel are carrying Finland from one crisis to another. Ukrainian refugees increase the need for services. We must now put pay right with a pay regime, JHL President Päivi Niemi-Laine demands.
More information and comments to the media:
Public Sector Union JAU
President of Trade Union Jyty: Jonna Voima, 050 591 2341
President of Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors JHL: Päivi Niemi-Laine, 040 702 4772
Negotiation Organisation for Public Sector Professionals JUKO
Board Chair Olli Luukkainen (OAJ), 050 065 2872