According to figures issued by Statistics Finland in November 1999, the number of working days lost due to strikes during the first six months of the year fell dramatically compared with the corresponding period in 1998. However, the sectoral bargaining round in early 2000 is likely to see a increase in industrial action.
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According to figures issued by Statistics Finland in November 1999, the number of working days lost due to strikes during the first six months of the year fell dramatically compared with the corresponding period in 1998. However, the sectoral bargaining round in early 2000 is likely to see a increase in industrial action.
According to preliminary information issued by Statistics Finland in November 1999, 36 strikes were recorded in the first half of the year. This represents a decrease of five compared with the same period in 1998, while the number of working days lost due to strikes fell more markedly from 101,053 to 13,411 days, and the number of workers participating in strikes was more than halved.
The most significant industrial conflict of early 1999 was the air traffic controllers' strike (FI9903102N), which affected international air traffic in particular and lasted almost a month. During this dispute, 5,600 working days were lost - 41% of the total working time lost in the first half of the year. The dispute also accounted for over 60% of the gross wages lost through strike action in the first half of 1999, due to the high wages of the air traffic controllers. In sectoral terms, there were most strikes in machine manufacturing (seven), electrical equipment manufacturing (five) and metal manufacturing (five). The sectors where most workers participated in strike action were the food and shipbuilding industries.
One reason for the low level of strike action during the first six months of 1999 may be that the current two-year central incomes policy agreement (FI9801145F) was entering its second year of operation, while the strategy for the next bargaining round was being planned. It appears that the peace obligations in the sectoral collective agreements signed within the framework of the central deal have been respected, despite the sector-specific problems which have arisen, such as clashes over the issue of outsourcing. At this stage, it can be predicted that the number of strikes will increase during 2000, when there will be no new central incomes policy deal (FI9910124N) but instead solely a branch-level bargaining round, during which attempts will be made to negotiate over sector-specific problems. For example, groups such as teachers (some 88,000 employees) have already mentioned the strike weapon as a means for pressing their demands. Workers in industry have been waiting for a "trail-blazer" to open the bargaining round and indicate the "going rate" for the wage increase. The productivity differences between sectors are very considerable, and trade unions' efforts to attain - or even exceed - the wage level of the most successful sectors may make for a restless spring.
Il-Eurofound jirrakkomanda li din il-pubblikazzjoni tiġi kkwotata kif ġej.
Eurofound (1999), Strike levels fall in 1999, article.
