Minna Helle: Overtime bans complicate collective bargaining and contribute to the economic slowdown
“However, Technology Industries of Finland is pleased to see that the unions are still open to negotiations. The employers are looking to resolve the situation as soon as possible. What we need to do now is to focus on the talks and not on these labour market disruptions”, Helle says.
The Industrial Union announced on Friday that an overtime ban would be in place across the entire industrial sector as of midnight on Monday, 4 November.* The overtime ban is due to end at midnight on Friday, 15 November. The ban affects the technology industry, the sheet metal and industrial insulation sector and ore mines as well as employees of the Finnish Ministry of Defence. Trade Union Pro’s overtime ban coincides with the Industrial Union’s ban and affects clerical workers in the technology industry. *
“Having to ask employees to work overtime is never ideal, but it is sometimes necessary to please customers and get deliveries out on time. Many businesses are also understaffed, which increases the need for overtime”, Helle explains.
The collective agreements in question expired at the end of October, and no agreements have been in place since Friday, 1 November. The negotiations with the Industrial Union have been the most fruitful so far. The main sticking point is costs, i.e. the effect that a new agreement could have on costs as the economy grows weaker.
* according to the later announcements the overtime bans will continue until 24 November
Further information:
Minna Helle, Executive Director, Industrial Relations, tel. +358 (0)50 341 4884
The Finnish Technology Industries is the lobbying organization for technology industry companies. It promotes competitiveness and operational preconditions of this largest and most important export sector in Finland. Technology industry comprises five sub-sectors: electronics and electro technical industry, mechanical engineering, metals industry, consulting engineering and information technology industries. The sector accounts for 50% of total Finnish exports and 70% of Finnish R&D-investments. There are 320 000 directly employed in the sector, total employment effect is around 670 000. Constantly progressing technology industry creates the basis for the Finnish welfare conditions.