News

Helsinki (10.11.2008 - Juhani Artto) In the next round of collective bargaining the purchasing power, in real terms, of wage and salary earners has to be safeguarded, the Council of Finnish Industrial Unions TP outlined on November 6. It must be reached by an entirety of pay rises and changes in taxes and various fees.



As a counterweight to globalisation job safety has to be improved so that it becomes more proactive than it is today. Employees must have the right to continuously develop their skills and, when needed, also the right to study to enable them to take up a new vocation. To this end employers will have to shoulder a significantly larger responsibility than they do now.



The Council will strictly coordinate the bargaining of its member unions and, through them, also the policy of the three union confederations. The Confederation of Industries EK and its member associations should not consider industrial peace as prevailing, through the bargaining round, unless purchasing power and job safety goals are reached.



Development of the national economy must be strengthened and conditions under which companies operate improved by cooperation of the labour market organisations and the government.



Antti Rinne, the President of the Union of Salaried Employees TU, was elected as the new chairperson of the Council. Riku Aalto, the President of the Metalworkers' Union, and Pertti Porokari, the President of the Union of Professional Engineers in Finland UIL were elected first and second chairpersons, respectively.



The Council of Finnish Industrial Unions TP is comprised of thirteen trade unions -from industry and various sectors providing services for industry. And the whole idea behind the Council is to promote cooperation between these thirteen unions. They represent 750,000 wage and salary earners.



Member unions of the Council are the Chemical Workers' Union, Metalworkers' Union, Paper Workers' Union, Wood and Allied Workers' Union, Construction Trade Union, Electrical Workers' Union, Food Workers' Union, Union of Salaried Employees TU, Association of Business School Graduates SEFE, Association of Graduate Engineers TEK, Union of Professional Engineers UIL, Graphical Workers' Union and Union of Machine Supervisors (Konepäällystöliitto).