Unequal job security measures irk Finnish TeliaSonera staff
Swedish employees entitled to lucrative outplacement arrangements
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Finnish employees at the telecommunications service provider TeliaSonera have taken exception to the fact that their labour contracts contain weaker job security provisions than those of employees working for the same company in Sweden.
A week ago TeliaSonera signed an agreement with Swedish trade unions. Under the agreement, if the company wants to terminate an employee, that employee is first moved to a separate job search unit, where he or she can spend up to three years on full pay seeking alternate employment within the company or elsewhere.
The head shop steward representing the Finnish employees of TeliaSonera, Taru Maria Solakivi, said that she was "absolutely furious" to hear about what she feels is inequality in personnel policy.
On Monday Solakivi was in Stockholm for discussions with Rune Nyberg, head of personnel at TeliaSonera. The main topic of discussion was the discrepancies in job security between the company's Finnish and Swedish workers.
"I think that it is inconceivable that these kinds of things can apply to only one country. They are constantly talking about a global concern, and this does not fit that at all", she lashed out.
While she is not demanding a three-year job-seeking period for TeliaSonera employees who are made redundant in Finland, Solakivi feels that some improvements to job security are needed in Finland as well.
Shop stewards of the Finnish unit have negotiated on the matter with TeliaSonera personnel management since the autumn.
Juha Pentti, head of personnel at Finland's TeliaSonera, confirms that the job security enjoyed by Swedish employees has sparked much debate among Finnish staff.
"The procedure is a somewhat more typical one in Sweden. As I recall, at least Ericsson and Volvo have such arrangements", he says.
As cutting jobs becomes more expensive in Sweden, there could be a danger that the Finnish unit could bear the brunt of any personnel reductions.
"But what will this cost and who will pay for it?" Solakivi wonders.
An engineer's pay for three years can easily cost the company over EUR 100,000.
"However, the feeling is that very few will be in the programme for a full three years", Pentti notes.
The outplacement programme is not supposed to be a three-year paid holiday. Those who are in it are expected to take part in the activities offered by the company.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 1.2.2005 - TODAY |
 Unequal job security measures irk Finnish TeliaSonera staff |
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