Alko sales staff approve contract - strike averted

print this

The trade union representing sales staff at Alko, the retail monopoly for sales of all alcoholic beverages stronger than medium-strength beer, gave its approval on Saturday to a proposal by District Conciliator Esa Lonka for a new labour contract. The settlement means that a threatened strike has been cancelled, and that Alko shops will be open normally as of Monday.
      In the two-and-a-half year contract, sales staff will see an average 12.6 per cent rise in pay.
      The employees’ side had to compromise somewhat on its demands for minimum working hours, and soon after the signing of the contract, the two sides indicated that they disagree on the interpretation of the language in the agreement.
     
Both Lonka and Arto Kettunen of the Federation of Finnish Commerce noted that the minimum working hour rules will not change. Under the rules, Saturday working hours are primarily 6.5 hours, but under certain circumstances the time can be shortened to four hours.
      As Alko has been quite eager to avail itself of the possibility to have its employees work four-hour shifts, the union side called for a mandatory minimum of 6.5 hours. The aim was to secure better earnings for Alko’s many part time employees.
      The issue was not resolved in the mediation proposal. Instead, it was left to a working group to be set up for the purpose. The working group does not have a deadline, and its decisions are not binding. In this respect Kettunen was satisfied with the result of the negotiations.
     
The union side agreed to the settlement, but there was a good deal of grumbling. The working hours issue was important for the union, and chairwoman Maili Kekki was bitter that no real progress was made, and that the question was deferred until later.
      However, Kekki did not feel that a strike would have been a better option.
      Kekki was more satisfied with the pay increases than Kettunen was, who complained that the deal was more expensive than what had been agreed on in other parts of the retail sector. Kettunen was satisfied that the more experienced employees got extra pay hikes.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Strike by Alko personnel likely from Saturday morning (29.11.2007)
  Forty Alko outlets remain open despite staff strike (16.11.2007)

Helsingin Sanomat