Incomes policy settlement eludes negotiators on Friday

In spite of all efforts, a final accord continued to elude negotiators seeking an incomes policy agreement in Finland today. One important unresolved issue for the employee confederations was that of how the agreed wage increases would be represented in salary scales and wage guidelines. It is these instruments that specify the minimum wages payable in various industries.

The offer made by the employers would have disadvantaged employees paid according to salary scales and wage guidelines, by comparison with the wage rises available to other employees.

The final settlement is more or less ready in all other respects. The dispute over salary scales and wage guidelines will be resolved over the weekend and at least the Executive Board of SAK is due to meet again on Monday morning to assess the negotiating situation.