PAM warns of 2-day strike in business sector from March 20

Service Union United (Palvelualojen ammattiliitto-PAM) on Monday issued a new strike warning for the commerce sector demanding a collective agreement including dismissal protection, said PAM in a press release.

If implemented, the strike will begin on March 20 at 05:00 and end on March 21 at 23:59 at the commerce sector in consumer goods, specialty, and wholesale trade companies.

About 20,000 employees work in 41 companies will be affected by the strike. The companies are Ahlsell, Akateeminen Kirjakauppa, Biltema, Clas Ohlson, Gigantti, Hankkija, Ikea, IKH and IKH Retail, Instru Optiikka, Jysk, Jula, Kärkkäinen, Löytötex, Masku, Mini-Mani, Musti ja Mirri, Normal, Peten Koiratarvike, Puuilo, Rusta, Silmäasema, Saiturin pörssi, Tiger Stores, Veljekset Keskinen, Verkkokauppa.com, and Würth.

PAM’s Executive Committee on February 28 decided that, under current condition, negotiations on employment terms in the commerce sector were not worth continuing with the Finnish Commerce Federations.

A solution was also sought last week under the leadership of the National Conciliator, but the negotiation talks ended without any result.

PAM’s proposal to maintain the current level of dismissal protection has not been met with understanding from the Finnish Commerce Federation, which represents commerce sector companies.

In many other sectors, the current level of protection has been ensured through collective agreements, even though the four-party alliance government led by Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party-NCP) Chairperson Petteri Orpo is weakening it through legislation.

“There are a lot of precarious jobs in the commerce sector, which already makes employees’ livelihoods uncertain and their position vulnerable. Now, employers also want to weaken dismissal protection. We want to prevent that. Employees in the commerce sector and other service sectors are at risk of having weaker protection against dismissal than in other industries,” said PAM’s President Annika Rönni-Sällinen.

Commerce sector companies have made record profits. In addition to safeguarding dismissal protection, PAM aims to restore employees’ purchasing power and improve the position of part-time workers.

“We regret the inconvenience caused to customers as services are disrupted. This happens because we are trying to secure a better agreement for employees,” said Rönni-Sällinen.