Strike in the technology industry began:Talks went down due to disagreement over pay
[23.10.2007]
The strike of the technology industry salaried employees began on Monday.
About 3,000 salaried employees of Aker Yards, Boliden, Luvata, Outokumpu,
Ovako, Rautaruukki and Wärtsilä participate in the strike.
The limited strike of the technology industry salaried
employees began on Monday 22 October at 11 a.m. About 3,000 salaried
employees at Aker Yards, Boliden, Luvata, Outokumpu, Ovako, Rautaruukki
and Wärtsilä participate in the strike. The industrial action
covers 34 work places.
The union of Salaried Employees TU issued on Wednesday 17 October another strike notice in the technology industry. If the parties fail to reach an agreement in nine days, the strike will be broadened on Wednesday 31 October to include 20 other companies, including Nokia, ABB, Nokia Siemens Networks and Metso. This expansion of the strike would hence cover 40 work places, with about 4,000 salaried employees then taking part in the industrial action.
Arbitration talks between TU and the Finnish Technology Industries were terminated on Sunday at 10 p.m. Then the National Conciliator Juhani Salonius concluded that it was not possible to make a settlement proposal.
According to Antti Rinne, the President of TU, arbitration failed because of disagreement over the pay rises due to be paid to all salaried employees covered by the agreement.
"We demanded 8.5 per cent but the employer offered only 5.9 per cent."
The disagreement also concerns the form of the pay rises. TU wants a mixture of pay rises in euros (for low salary employees) and in percentages (for the better paid). The employer is only willing to offer pay rises to one and all according to the percentage line.
"The mixed line means equality in pay rises", Rinne says. In relative terms, there are more women than men in the low pay categories, he adds.
"Based on the inquiry made among the rank and
file, TU is committed to a just and fair pay policy. With their percentage
line the technology industry employers oppose equal development of salaries
and promote a widening of the pay gap."
Viimeksi muokattu: 23.10.2007
[Kerro kaverille]
