No negotiation result yet for the state sector
The negotiations on the collective agreement for government (the collective agreement for state civil servants and employees under contract) on Friday 28 February did unfortunately not result into an agreement. A negotiation result that would have satisfied all parties could not be achieved by the end date of the old collective agreement, and the sector entered a period without agreement on 1 March.
Negotiations on a new collective agreement for the state sector on Friday 28 February did not produce a negotiation result. Office for the Government as Employer was not able to respond to the counteroffer that the principal negotiating organisations made on Friday.
The collective agreement period ended on 28 February 2025, and this means that the sector entered a period without agreement on the first day of March.
- This did not come as a surprise, because the employer and we were too far from each other, comments Senior Bargaining Specialist Harri Turunen.
What is a period without agreement?
A period without agreement is a common labour market practise. It can also be called an interval without a collective agreement. If negotiators do not achieve a negotiation result that the parties accept as a new collective agreement before the end date of the old agreement, then the sector enters a period without agreement.
Even though the term of the state sector collective agreements has expired, the agreements still have continuing effect. It means that certain provisions of the collective agreement still apply after the expiration of the agreement. This continuing effect ends when a new collective agreement has been concluded and become effective.
The obligation of industrial peace does not apply during a period without agreement.
The collective agreement for government is applied to the terms and conditions of employment of civil servants and employees under contract in state agencies unless otherwise prescribed, ordered or agreed.
Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors JHL, Trade Union Pro and Negotiation Organisation for Public Sector Professionals JUKO represent the employees in these negotiations, and Office for the Government as Employer (VTML) represents the employer.
JHL’s negotiators are Senior Bargaining Specialist Harri Turunen and Bargaining Specialist Teija Wikman.
More information:
Harri Turunen, Senior Bargaining Specialist at JHL, 050 461 9303
Teija Wikman, Bargaining Specialist at JHL, 050 565 1579
Your trade union JHL negotiates on a number of collective agreements in 2025. Follow the negotiations on our website.