Unions warn of new work stoppages in the financial sector from 26 March 2018, conciliation to continue on 16 March 2018

On Sunday, 11 March 2018, Trade Union Pro, Trade Union Nousu and Danske Bank’s staff association Pro announced several work stoppages.

National Conciliator Minna Helle has invited the parties to a conciliation meeting on Friday, 16 March 2018 at 10 a.m.

A long and complex dispute

Conciliation in this exceptionally drawn-out labour dispute has continued since December 2017. Work stoppages previously took place on 28 and 29 December 2017. The National Conciliator issued a proposal in late January – early February 2018, but no settlement ensued as it was rejected by Trade Unions Pro and Nousu.

While efforts to conciliate the dispute have also been made more recently, the National Conciliator reports that the parties have reached an impasse, and no prerequisites have existed for continuing the conciliation procedure since the last meeting.

At the centre of this dispute are doing weekend work and its terms in the financial sector. The employees wish to promote weekend work through local agreements, whereas the employers would like to ensure the possibility of weekend work also in case it proves impossible to negotiate a local agreement at the level of individual companies.

Parties to the dispute

The parties to the labour dispute in the financial sector are Trade Union Pro, Trade Union Nousu and Federation of Professional and Managerial Staff YTN on the employee side. The employers are represented by Finance Finland and Service Sector Employers Palta. Danske Bank’s collective agreement is also in dispute. The parties to this labour dispute are Danske Bank’s staff association Pro and Danske Bank.

Announced stoppages

Trade Union Pro, Trade Union Nousu and Danske Bank’s staff association Pro have announced the following work stoppages:

26 – 29 March 2018 OP Group

3 – 6 April 2018 Nordea

9 – 12 April 2018 Other companies in the sector

While the Federation of Professional and Managerial Staff YTN participates in the conciliation procedure as a party to the agreement, it has announced no work stoppages.