Union leaders slam paper industry for hurting incomes talks

Erkki Vuorenmaa

Matti Huutola

print this

The announcement by the Finnish Forest Industries Federation on Monday that it did not want to be a part of a centralised incomes agreement was denounced by Erkki Vuorenmaa, chairman of the Finnish Metalworkers’ Union.
      "The announcement could even endanger the birth of an incomes agreement if the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) does not get its member organisation into line", Vuorenmaa said on Tuesday.
      Although the Forest Industries Federation gave its announcement this week, it had apparently decided already in the spring not to be part of the incomes talks.
      Vuorenmaa denounced the federation for dropping out of the process in the middle of negotiations before the content of the contract was known. He also said that there is serious confusion within EK.
     
"EK must demand commitment from its member organisations under the same principles that it demands it from the employees’ side", Vuorenmaa said.
      He added that all groups should be part of the incomes agreement.
      "That is the only way to ensure the basic goal of incomes agreements - stability and predictability."
     
Matti Huutola, vice chairman of the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), accused the Forest Industries Federation of trying to block an incomes agreement.
      He said that Monday’s announcement was apparently intended to add confusion to the incomes talks.
     
Meanwhile, the atmosphere at the actual talks showed somewhat more tension on Tuesday.
      The original aim was to complete discussions on qualitative issues so that wage goals might be discussed today, Wednesday. However, this was delayed, because agreement was not reached in a working group that had been discussing the question of responsibility for the payment of wages, taxes, and social security contributions for those working for subcontractors.
      The working group on qualitative issues has reached agreement on a plan that would allow an employee whose job has been terminated to get higher unemployment benefits if he or she trains for another profession. The working group also agreed that Finnish employers should collectively pay for the costs of the additional unemployment benefits.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Paper industry withdraws from centralised incomes talks (23.11.04)

Helsingin Sanomat