Strike begins in the technology industry

Both unions and employers turned down the proposal of the National Conciliator

(Helsinki 21.10.2011 - Juhani Artto) About 30,000 salaried and wage employees at 37 technology industry companies began a strike 6 a.m. on Friday. The proposal put forward by the National Conciliator, Esa Lonka, was rejected by both the employers and the three unions representing the employees. The unions involved in the dispute are the private sector salaried employees' union Pro, the Metalworkers' Union and the Electrical Workers' Union.

The major stumbling block was the pay structure presented by the National Conciliator. The Metalworkers' Union wants a solution whereby a large part of the pay rise awards translate as equal amounts of cents for all with the locally negotiable share of the pay rises remaining minimal. In his statement Pro's President Antti Rinne says that the proposal did not guarantee equal minimum pay rises to all and that too large a share of the pay rises was left at the employers' discretion.

Another disagreement concerned the annual three days of paid training leave promised in the framework agreement signed by the union and employer confederations. In the technology industry negotiations the parties have tried to find common understanding on how to apply the framework agreement in the industry-specific agreements.

The strike will last until November 7 unless the parties can reach an agreement before that date. Senior salaried employees will join the strike on November 1 if the strike is still ongoing. The unions involved have declared an overtime ban in the entire technology industry.

The conflict in the technology industry casts doubts on the fate of the confederation level framework agreement.