Labour dispute resolved in the electrical sector

The resolution of the dispute consists of the proposal for settlement and its supplementing agreement entered between the Finnish Electrical Workers’ Union, the Finnish Industrial Union and the Technology Industries of Finland. Industrial action has ended, and industrial peace has been restored in the sector.

The settlement was confirmed on 7 November when the parties to the labour dispute, the Finnish Electrical Workers’ Union and the Technology Industries of Finland, accepted the proposal for settlement, which had been submitted by National Conciliator Minna Helle on 5 November. The Finnish Industrial Union, too, has accepted the proposal for settlement. All three parties have also signed an agreement supplementing the proposal for settlement. This agreement has been confirmed by the National Conciliator.

National Conciliator Minna Helle was pleased that a difficult dispute has now been resolved.

• All parties benefit from the settlement. It creates a foundation for building a confidential partnership between the parties, she said.

The dispute centred on the issue of the right to negotiate. The collective agreement between the Finnish Electrical Workers’ Union and the Technology Industries of Finland expired on 31 October 2017. It will not be continued. The resolution means that the Finnish Electrical Workers’ Union will continue to have contact persons in the technology industries who will participate in the preparation of and cooperation in issues concerning its members until 31 October 2019.

The resolution also contains procedures for settling disagreements concerning the members of the Finnish Electrical Workers’ Union. The employers’ will continue to collect the union fees on behalf of the Finnish Electrical Workers’ Union, and representatives of the union are allowed to attend administrative meetings of the union during working time until 31 October 2009.

Finnish Electrical Workers’ Union and Finnish Industrial Union are negotiating collaboration

As of 1 November 2017, the employment conditions for electrical workers in the technology industries will be settled in a collective agreement between the Finnish Industrial Union and the Technology Industries of Finland. The chief union representatives of the Finnish Industrial Union will represent all the employees in a workplace in the negotiations and agreements. Contact persons from the Finnish Electrical Workers’ Union will act as experts in matters concerning electrical work.

The Finnish Electrical Workers’ Union and the Finnish Industrial Union will settle their mutual collaboration by 31 May 2019. They aim to define the procedures that will ensure that electrical workers’ needs and special issues are taken into consideration after 31 May 2019.

Industrial action has ended

The Finnish Electrical Workers’ Union’s industrial action and secondary action in the member companies of the Technology Industries of Finland lasted from 1 November to 8 November. Industrial peace has now been restored in the sector. The second phase of the industrial action, planned to start on Friday 10 November 2017, was cancelled already on Sunday 5 November 2017.

The proposal for a settlement and its supplementary agreement in Finnish