SAK President to change in spring 2009

The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions - SAK will soon be appointing a new leader. At an SAK General Council meeting held today the organisation's current President Lauri Ihalainen announced his intention to retire in May 2009.

Eighteen years of continuous service have made Lauri Ihalainen the longest-serving President in SAK history. Although his term of office as President began on 16 November 1990, he had previously served the organisation in various capacities from 1970 onwards, initially as Youth Secretary and Organisation Secretary, and subsequently as Secretary-General.

In a speech to the General Council today Lauri Ihalainen explained his view that next spring would provide a fitting opportunity for a change of leader:

- Following up on decisions made at its last Congress, SAK has launched a major project for the future, encompassing strategic work on the foundations, values, missions, aims and operating methods of the movement. There can be no more natural opportunity and challenge for a new President than to direct this work with a view to ensuring that the next Congress in 2011 will be able to decide on policies for progress.

Ihalainen is also convinced that SAK will continue to be a vital stakeholder in social and labour market policy, even as Finland&#;8217s collective bargaining policies undergo substantial reform.

- Collective bargaining policy is evolving, especially in the field of pay and bonuses, and in terms of the respective roles of individual unions and the national labour confederation. Unions are also restructuring and realigning by business and industrial sector. This progress merely underlines the need for close co-operation between SAK and the trade unions. Globalisation is creating new challenges and pressures towards international collective bargaining, and SAK is expected to take the lead in this area.

As Lauri Ihalainen is due to stand down midway between Congresses, the new President will be appointed by the General Council of SAK at its meeting on 14-15 May 2009. The next SAK Congress will be held in June 2011.