SAK Congress tests voting machine

News from the 17th SAK Congress

The 17th Congress of the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions - SAK tested a new voting machine when considering a working document on future trends in its Tuesday morning session. Conference delegates operated the machine using small devices resembling television remote control units. They were asked to respond to a range of assertions and to vote on one or two of the more important options.

The test session included a question on ways of improving the vocational skills of employees. The delegates voted that the most important means would be to enable vocational development measures to take place during paid working hours. Their second most important objective would be for part of the increase in business profitability to be ploughed back into staff training.

Other popular options included combining training and part-time work, concluding training agreements as part of industry-wide collective agreements, electing local expertise delegates at workplaces, and preparing a special skills development programme for small enterprises.

Participants were also asked to express their view of a light-hearted suggestion that the next SAK Congress in 2011 might be take place on the Internet. This proposal was overwhelmingly defeated.