The local agreement, which has caused a lot of talk and beard rustling for about a year, is going to remain a torso, if an agreement is reached at all. I am writing this article at a time when there have not really been any decisions on the matter one way or the other. The issue is being chased every day in any media, but waiting for those decisions feels like the youth is dwindling. Chaser jockey, chaser jockey…
I think it will be a bummer if it happens that only companies belonging to the employers' union can agree on things locally. Of Finland's approximately 90 employer companies, only about 000 companies belong to employer unions, so there are about 20 companies outside the unions - companies that employ and probably want to continue to employ.
I work as an entrepreneur myself, and it's clear to me that things are agreed on at the workplace, either by the two of you or, for example, in a larger group. That larger team can be, for example, the implementation team of a multi-tasking contract, with which the money and the work to be done are determined on a project-by-project basis. Things are therefore agreed between those who are actually affected by the decisions made. And an agreement can be reached, it just requires a little flexibility and understanding from both sides of the table. It doesn't hurt if realism is included when considering the decision, it will probably be a good guideline for both parties, both the employer's representative and the employee.
Suomen Yrittäjät, among others, has been talking about local agreements for much longer than the year I mentioned at the beginning, but now it is somehow really turning from talk into action. However, in my opinion, successful companies have been doing this throughout their existence. Success is always realized for the benefit of the employees as well.
This mandatory renewal of our working life just has to be done, it must be done now.
Pasi Pitkänen
Chairman of the Eastern Finland district of Talonrakennusteollisuus ry
Kuopio Monirakennus Oy
The text was originally published as an editorial in the Eastern Finland district newsletter (2/2016) of Talonrakennusteollisuus ry.
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