The conciliation proposal was rejected: State sector strikes start on Tuesday
The National Conciliator’s conciliation proposal in the state sector collective agreement dispute was not considered good enough, and the dispute continues. The first two-day strike starts tomorrow, Tuesday 15 April.
Executive bodies of the negotiating parties did not approve the conciliation proposal which the National Conciliator submitted on Sunday in an effort to resolve the bargaining dispute on the state sector collective agreement (collective agreement for government). Also JHL's Union Council unanimously rejected the proposal in its meeting on Monday.
The employee side does not approve the proposed pay rises, which are below the general level 7.8%. Disagreement on the pay rise amount continues.
This means that the strikes that have been announced earlier will start at state sector workplaces on Tuesday 15 April at 12.01 am.
The bans on overtime and shift swaps and the ban to accrue flex hours, which apply to all state-sector employees who are in a contractual employment relationship, continue as well.
– It is quite incomprehensible that the employer found the Concialiator's proposal too high. Our views on pay rises are very far from each other. The state sector employees are prepared to fight for their pay rises, says JHL's Bargaining Specialist Teija Wikman.
This week's strike is going to be followed by another, three days long strike. It is due to start on 22 April if agreement is not found on the state sector pay rises before that.
The Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors JHL, Trade Union Pro and the 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
This article has been updated on 15 April 2025 with the negotiator's comment and information that JHL's Union Council rejected the proposal unanimouly.
Your trade union JHL negotiates on a number of collective agreements in 2025. Follow the negotiations on our website.
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