Plaudits for the Finnish industrial relations system

News from the 17th SAK Congress

Finland&#;8217s industrial relations system and its achievements were warmly praised as the Congress of the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions – SAK began on Monday in Helsinki. Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen extolled the achievements of the national incomes policy bargaining system and expressed the hope that this success would continue. In an official greeting to the Congress John Monks, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, said that he had long admired the Finnish system as the world’s most successful industrial relations model.

This system is based on collaboration between the government and both sides of industry. The national incomes policy settlement is a broad accord on wages, taxes and improvements in working life. The system has brought stability and predictability to Finland’s national economy.

In his opening address SAK President Lauri Ihalainen stressed that as the next Member State to hold the Presidency of the European Union, Finland should strengthen similar three-sided collective bargaining arrangements in Europe.

Harmonising work and training

Lauri Ihalainen outlined a national development strategy. This should combine humane evolution of working life and promotion of productivity. The strategy would bring together new technology, improved expertise, social innovation, good management, wellbeing at work, and employee security in times of change.

SAK will not be seeking a reduction in the current working week of about 38 hours, but will lobby for employees to enjoy time for improving their vocational skills. The organisation will also seek the election of expertise delegates at workplaces. These representatives would work to ensure access to vocational training for all enterprise staff during working hours.

Controlling casual and irregular employment

In his address to the congress Lauri Ihalainen stressed that while the labour force in Finland is also becoming increasingly multicultural, this development must comply with local legislation and collective agreements.

“We cannot allow immigrants to become second class citizens,” Ihalainen observed.

ETUC General Secretary John Monks also insisted that the principle of the European trade union movement must be “when in Helsinki, do as the Finns do”.

“Competing for the worst jobs and terms of employment form no part of the Finnish system,” explained SAK Vice President Matti Huutola.

“Employment agencies in particular tend to select only the elements of Finnish legislation that suit their interests. Finnish statutes are not cherries to be selected from the dish and discarded at leisure. Laws are made to be observed, and it is the job of public authorities to ensure that this happens," Huutola insists.

Improving the situation of casual workers and agency employees will be high on the lobbying agenda of SAK in the immediate future.

275 delegates from various parts of Finland are attending the three-day SAK Congress. The youngest delegate is 19 years old and the oldest is 64. Forty per cent of the delegates are women.