FINLAND: Strike that! Unions call off strikes

University staff were to take their first strike action since 1986 but the stop-work scheduled for last Thursday was called off. It had been planned because universities were looking to reduce staff conditions relating to sick and annual leave.

The threat of strike action appears to have led to a speed-up in negotiations but the information available at present is sketchy. A new collective agreement has been signed, effective for two years from 1 March.

The parties agreed to a minor salary increase from 1 November, of 0.98%, plus a one-off payment equal to 5.5% of the November salary. Other changes were made to the previous collective agreement regarding academic working hours, the overall salary system and the merging of two systems relating to salary payments during sick leave.

Negotiations concerning salary increases during 2011 are to be held later.