Juhani Artto 

If these two unions, representing employees in the technology industry - the largest export sector in Finland - had turned down the framework agreement, the entire agreement would have collapsed. In the Metalworkers' Union 38 delegates voted for approval of the framework agreement, and 12 delegates voted against it.

Bargaining in the technology industry continued on Monday. The National Conciliator is involved in efforts to resolve disagreements. The overtime ban, announced by the concerned union organizations is still in effect and covers the entire technology industry.

The schedule for these negotiations is very tight. The threatened strike, which would affect 44 companies, and involve some 32,000 salaried and wage employees, is set to begin on Friday morning unless the parties can find a common understanding on how to apply the framework agreement. In practice, agreements must be reached by Wednesday evening, as the driving down of the productive processes will begin on Thursday.

Pro's primary goal is to direct the pay rises of the framework agreement to equal rises for all employees concerned. The framework agreement defines the maximum cost impact of the solutions in various industries but it leaves the terms on how this is to be achieved to be ironed out by the negotiating parties.

The framework agreement entitles all employees to three days of paid training leave. Older employees may avail of this right in ways that improve their ability to continue in work. Pro wants these rights to be directly included in the collective agreements for the various industries. Decisions on how these rights are to be applied cannot be left up to the employers alone, Pro insists.