The negotiation round of collective agreements is approaching. During the spring, extensive strikes were experienced in Finland, the background of which was the government's proposals for reforms in working life. In the fall, collective agreement negotiations will start in the export industries, and other industries, including the entire construction field, will soon follow.
The government now wants to confirm by law that the general level of wage increases would be determined in key export sectors. According to the Chancellor of Justice, this may lead to the national mediator's impartiality and independence being compromised. In practice, however, this has been the case for years, and in this regard, the fear of jeopardizing the mediator's independence seems pointless.
The labor market players have publicly hinted at a difficult round of negotiations in the midst of legal turmoil regarding working life. There is reason to hope that pessimism will not feed itself, but that people will come to the negotiation table with a solution-oriented approach. Collective bargaining is an integral part of working life and has a significant impact on the company's operations. From the employer's point of view, negotiations are a challenge, but also an opportunity. Only with a reasonable end result is it possible to support the sector that has reached the bottom of the economic cycle and take care of companies' ability to provide employment.
Collective agreements define the minimum working conditions of employees, such as wages and numerous other conditions. These agreements are the basis for industrial peace in workplaces. For the employer, the outcome of the negotiations directly affects the company's cost structure and competitiveness. Excesses in the increase in the cost level would weaken the construction industry's recovery from the recession, where operations have had to be adjusted for a long time. Companies' ability to do profitable business should be taken special care of during the labor market round.
The negotiations are carefully prepared. Regarding the current collective agreement, we will assess where there is room for improvement. An important role here is played by the member companies, from whom the negotiators seek information in advance about which sections of the collective agreement require updating.
During the contract period, the negotiating parties in the HVAC sector have worked in working groups to ensure that before the negotiations start, there is already a view of the issues important to both. LVI-TU assembles a skilled and experienced negotiation team of company representatives to support the union's negotiators, who know both the company's and the labor market's situation.
If there is a will, even more flexible ways to organize work in fluctuating economic situations can be found in the negotiations. Agreements are always being concluded by people, the final result is built on the trust and cooperation between them. Successful negotiations are based on good communication, realistic goals and mutual trust. All of these are also needed in the upcoming round.
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