PAM warns of legal action, if workers face discrimination

Service Union United (Palvelualojen ammattiliitto-PAM) on Wednesday warned that the union would take legal action against the employers, if the workers face any discrimination for joining the strike beginning next week, said PAM in a news release.

Earlier, PAM announced to enforce a five-day strike at business sector from February 17, if its demand for a collective agreement is not fulfilled. About 70000 workers are involved in the strike.

PAM’s Legal Affairs Manager Arja Pohjola said it is clear that striking workers must not be discriminated and participating in a legal strike must not result in any consequences.

“If necessary, PAM will pursue cases against employers. In practice, that means that the union ultimately takes them to court,” said Pohjola in the news release.

PAM has previous experience of questionable countermeasures by employers, by which employers have tried to break strikes, said Pohjola.

“The trade union has given notice of a lawful strike in accordance with legal requirements. That means workers don’t need to tell the employer about going on strike,” she said, adding that individual workers have nothing to fear from joining the strikes.

Even if a worker has previously informed the employer that they would work, they still have every right to join the strike, she said.

“There must not be any penalties for the worker for striking, no matter what the employer says. Participating in a strike must not negatively affect an employee’s job or career at the workplace,” Pohjola added.

The right to strike and to organise in a union is strongly protected by law in Finland. It is prohibited to treat workers differently based on union membership or striking. If an employer were to do so, they would likely be in violation of the Non-Discrimination Act.

“There have been instances of paying higher wages to those who work during a strike. We consider that discriminatory and illegal,” she said.