Did you know? The Collective Agreement has been renewed

The Collective Agreement for the Facilities Services Sector: The Collective Agreement has been renewed for the period from 1 February 2017 to 31 January 2018. The agreement period does not include any pay increases. As per the earnings development programme, the minimum wages specified in the Collective Agreement will be increased as from 1 April 2017 according to a pay scale increase amounting to 1.25% per hour. (pam.fi)

The new Collective Agreement only includes amendments required in the Competitiveness Pact, such as the extension to working hours. There will be no pay increases in those sectors covered by the Pact during its period of validity. The April pay scale increase is due to the earnings development programme that was agreed previously. The new Collective Agreement is available at PAM’s online store, also in English.

We asked process cleaner Sami Viitasaari if he knew that the Collective Agreement had been renewed and that it would be valid through to the end of January next year.
Yes, I’m aware of that.

The new Collective Agreement only includes amendments required in the Competitiveness Pact. What are they?
Everyone’s annual working hours will increase by an average of 24 hours. Under the fall-back model, I’ll accrue 3 fewer additional days off this year than in previous years. Many others will be affected by the Competitiveness Pact in much more concrete ways. It’s them that I feel bad for.

When will customary negotiations on the terms and conditions of employment resume?
I know that PAM’s Executive Committee has already started to prepare for the next bargaining round this February. The collective agreement negotiations will definitely be difficult but interesting. Hopefully, there will be some signs of the benefits promised by the Competitiveness Pact during the negotiations. Blue-collar workers have now contributed enough to the common good.