SAK Congress debates employee situation in times of change

News from the 17th SAK Congress

The status of employees amidst the chaotic uncertainties of working life, widening income disparities, and the ability of trade unions to influence policymaking at workplaces were the principal themes of speeches delivered at the SAK Congress in Helsinki on Tuesday.

Affiliated trade unions have submitted 34 proposals to the congress on various issues ranging from casual and irregular employment to improvements in unemployment benefit, and from the status of shop stewards to promotion of health and safety at work.

A proposal from the private sector services union PAM seeks to tackle the problem of controlling agency work. SAK is due to embark on a project to eliminate anomalies that have arisen in the use of agency workers.

The Wood and Allied Workers&#;8217 Union is seeking the support of SAK in dealing with the growing problem of enforced entrepreneurship. A marked tendency is emerging for permanent employees to be dismissed but then offered the same work on a self-employed basis. SAK also intends to lobby through both national and international channels for legislation to combat such enforced entrepreneurship. Nominal self-employment that provides no real scope for free enterprise should not be recognised as entrepreneurial activity.

Proposals for improved unemployment benefits have been submitted by the Chemical Workers’ Union, the Finnish Metalworkers’ Union, the Finnish Media Union and the Construction Trade Union. The SAK Congress decided that employees must be eligible for consistent unemployment benefits, irrespective of the type of employment when working.

The Finnish Food Workers' Union – SEL and the Finnish Metalworkers’ Union were among SAK affiliates that were keen to improve the status of shop stewards. The congress decided that shop stewards should be entitled to more information and to further enhancements in job security, to be secured though legislation and collective agreements.

The Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors – JHL urged SAK to lobby for taxation policies that would ensure continued funding for the public sector. SAK will take the view that cuts in income tax should not be financed by cutting public services.