The moments of a solution in the labor market dispute are at hand – SAK is ready to stop Finland – 2024-03-05 09:33:32

In the photo, the chairman of the central organizations STTK, Antti Palola, and the chairman of SAK, Jarkko Eloranta, at a protest against the government’s actions in Helsinki’s Senate square in early February. ATTE KAJOVA

A solution is being sought in the long-lasting dispute between the trade union and Orpo’s government.

Last Friday, SAK sent an invitation to a media conference with the title “SAK reviews the labor market situation”. The short invitation states that the chairman Jarkko Eloranta tells about the negotiation situation with the government on Tuesday.

On Monday, it was reported that the prime minister Petteri Orpo (kok) has invited union leaders on Friday, March 8 to discuss labor market issues. In the past, official discussions have been held with the labor market partners mostly by the Minister of Labour Arto Satonen (kok).

Labor market sources have been silent about the content of Tuesday’s press conference, but according to Iltalehti’s information, the ay movement is ready for new extensive strike action, unless a common ground is found with the government. In particular, SAK is prepared for a flurry of strikes, which is aimed at a general strike-like situation again, where workers from several industries are on strike and bring Finland to a standstill.

Maaseudu futurus reported on Monday evening that the strikes can last up to four days, and strikes are planned for weeks 11 and 12.

According to IL’s information, on Tuesday SAK also intends to inform in some form about the demands it has for the government in order to stop industrial action. So far, SAK has widely opposed the government’s changes related to the labor market and social security.

Export-led wage model

The meeting of Orpo and union leaders was reported on Monday by the Education Association (OAJ). It announced that the OAJ’s board proposed at its meeting on February 8 that the prime minister should convene the central unions to start negotiations on the labor market model and hold a dialogue to resolve the labor market crisis.

– The situation either gets really tight or starts to open up. The export market model is now on the prime minister’s desk, so for the first time one could think that solutions will emerge, a key ay source tells Iltalehte.

Public sector unions, including OAJ, have criticized the government’s planned export-led salary model. According to Iltalehti’s information, the opposition of the coalition-dominated OAJ puts additional pressure on the government at the negotiating table.

At the end of last year, the government and the labor market partners were supposed to discuss an export-led salary model, but the discussions stalled when SAK and member unions demanded that other government plans be brought to the table, such as the promotion of local bargaining. The government did not agree to such negotiations.

According to Iltalehti’s information, the government has no desire to discuss anything other than an export-led wage model at Friday’s meeting. It does not bode well for finding common ground.

– It is clear that if the government now just tries to corner Satone’s salary model on the prime minister’s table, and does not want to negotiate on other issues, then there will be new labor battles ahead, says an ay source.

For example, SAK’s member association AKT has already commented that it would also like other government actions on the table.

– I thank the Prime Minister for the invitation. The discussion is always appropriate and certainly contributes to thinking. However, reaching the desired outcome requires that the negotiation agenda also includes other drastic reductions aimed at employees, the chairman of AKP, which represents the transport industry Ismo Kokko wrote on Monday in the message service X.

In the export-led salary model, it is intended to enshrine in law that the export sector would in the future determine how large salary increases other sectors can receive from the national conciliator.