New start for SAK union talks on amalgamation or closer cooperation

(Helsinki 12.07.2009 - Juhani Artto) The withdrawal of the Metalworkers' Union from the amalgamation project which had been launched by a number of industrial unions has not killed efforts to consolidate the union structure within the union confederation SAK.

The participants of the failed project have expressed their willingness to consider other kinds of solutions. Some unofficial discussions have already been arranged, union sources confirm.

The reasons behind the push for closer cooperation or amalgamation are clear. Union leaders and activists share the belief that consolidation of the union structure is necessary to strengthen the bargaining power of the organised labour.

In the last few years the employers have been able to make their bargaining organisation more effective. It is this reality more than anything else that has brought home to the trade union movement that there is a compelling need to find solutions that lead to improved efficacy also on the labour side.

Unions open for various options

The board of the Media Union has authorized its leaders to negotiate a merger with the Chemical Workers' Union. The latter is interested in the proposal but wants to analyse several other merger and close cooperation options. Heikki Helkavuori, the new President of the Media Union, has doubts about the tightening up of cooperation alternative. Both unions regard a rapid solution as possible, thanks to the preparations already made for the amalgamation of those industrial unions.

Sakari Lepola, the new President of the Wood and Allied Workers' Union, has spoken positively about the prospect of closer cooperation with the Electrical Workers' Union and the Paperworkers' Union and the groups of salaried employees in these industries. However, he would prefer amalgamation to some form of closer cooperation.

The Electrical Workers' Union is in favour of tightening cooperation and not ready for amalgamation. This attitude is shared also by the Paperworkers' Union. In June its congress approved a resolution that asks the leadership to prepare various tightening of cooperation options for the next congress, due to be held in 2013.

And the Railway Workers' Union also prefers extending of cooperation to amalgamation but the union is open to other solutions, too, its President Vesa Mauriala says.

The Metal Workers' Union has not yet, after the failure of the previous effort, given any concrete hints as to its preferences in the consolidation process. But, Riku Aalto, the President of the union, made it clear, already at the failed congress in June that the Metal Workers' Union will strive for consolidation among the SAK industrial unions.

Two other amalgamation projects

In May four unions of salaried employees announced that they will not implement the amalgamation plan, already approved by the boards of the unions. The four organisations are the Union of Salaried Employees TU and three smaller unions representing salaried employees in the financial, ict and graphical industries. These four unions are affiliated members of the Finnish Confederation of Professionals STTK.

According to Antti Rinne, the President of the TU, the unions could not put together the different ways how they are working. The union representatives stress that the project has been a significant process and leads to closer cooperation. The amalgamation plan has not been buried and may be put back on the table at some time in the future.

Seven SAK unions in the transport sector began some time ago to study pros and cons of a possible amalgamation. This project is scheduled to last several years.