PAM warns strike at major groceries, service sectors

Trade union PAM, which earlier announced to go for strike in the groceries and service sectors on Friday decided to expand the strike to more organisations including K-Citymarket to press home its demands for competitiveness pact.

The Service Union United PAM took the decision as the ongoing negotiation for the collective agreement in the facilities services sector led by the National Conciliator’s Office failed to reach to an amicable solution in this regard.

As little progress was made in the negotiations, PAM has decided to extend the strikes in the sector to the week of 24 February, as decided by the Union’s Executive Committee on 31 January, said a PAM press release.

“Before we entered mediation, there was no progress in the negotiations for the collective agreement in the facilities services sector due to employer stalling. It still seems that the employers’ unwillingness to work on the sector’s collective agreement is an issue”, said Annika Rönni-Sällinen, president of PAM.

A significant percentage of cleaners, for example, work part-time. The average hourly pay of part-time workers in the sector is 74% of the average hourly pay of full-time employees.

“We are extending the strike in the facilities services sector to boost negotiations according to previous decisions”, said Rönni-Sällinen.

The strike in the facilities services sector covers work locations in Southern, Eastern and Southwestern Finland for ISS Palvelut Oy, Lassila&Tikanoja Oyj, Sol Palvelut Oy and RTK-Palvelu Oy between 25 February and 1 March.

The duration of the strikes is between two and five days. In addition, cleaning and facility maintenance work in Kesko warehouses and K-Citymarket locations will be under strike between 24 and 28 February.

“I hope that the willingness to negotiate will emerge so that we can reach solutions for the collective agreement before these dates, which would mean the strike could be avoided,” Rönni-Sällinen added.