Merger, closer cooperation
or…?
SAK’s Lyly maps options for future relations
between six industrial trade unions
Helsinki (29.12.2006 - Juhani Artto) Efforts to develop cooperation between
six industrial trade unions have advanced to a new phase. In mid- December the unions
chose SAK’s bargaining department head, Lauri Lyly, to examine the options for future
relations between the six unions.
The main alternatives lie between a full merger and closer cooperation. Lyly has been
asked to produce his analysis and findings by the end of March 2007. The unions did not in
any way impose preconditions on Lyly’s challenge.
The six unions involved are
- The Chemical Workers' Union
- The Electrical Workers' Union
- The Media Union
- The Paper Workers' Union
- The Wood and Allied Workers' Union
- The Metalworkers’ Union
The unions, all affiliates of the largest union confederation SAK, made their mutual
negotiations public in early 2006. After initial talks the Construction Trade Union
withdrew from the negotiations.
A few months ago the Metalworkers’ Union joined the negotiations. The unions, now
participating in the project, have 370,000 rank and file members and about 50 collective
agreements in the many industries represented by them.
The Finnish way to merge unions is first to undertake a thorough analysis of the situation
and then allow rank and file members plenty of time to discuss and consider the pros and
cons of the various options at hand. In light of this, the unions now mention the year
2010 as the likely time when changes, if any, will take place. Before then the highest
organs of the unions will have met and made their final decisions.
Pressure to tighten up the union structure within the SAK, stem largely from the changes
which have occurred in working life. The borders or overlap between various industries
have changed and are in a continuous process of change. The employer’s side has
already come to its own conclusions and is radically reducing, through mergers, the number
of national employer organisations. The employers also want to significantly reduce the
number of national collective agreements, by seeking to combine several of the existing
ones.
Read also: (04.09.2006)
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