PAM approves mediation proposal – settlement emphasises the role of shop stewards
PAM’s Executive Committee and the Agreement Sector Commissions unanimously approved the mediation proposals made by National Conciliator Minna Helle for the ski centre and activity programme sectors. PAM President Ann Selin considers the settlement to be balanced.
The negotiations and mediation for the ski centre and activity programme sectors took place in extraordinary circumstances, so Selin considers that all sides have won by reaching a settlement.
– Reaching a settlement looked almost impossible. Fortunately, together with the shop stewards in the sector, the basis for a settlement was found in local agreement, which employers were also prepared to accept, Selin states.
The settlements for both the ski centre sector and the activity programme sector are for two years (1.11.2017 - 31.10.2019). The agreements include wage increases for both years, which will principally be negotiated locally each year by 15 January.
– During the mediation, confidence was created that wage increases will be able to be agreed locally. This made approval of the settlements possible, says Selin.
For the activity programme sector, more flexible working time arrangements were made possible, and these will be negotiated locally. The condition for this flexibility was the introduction of evening and night work bonuses, which are all-new to the sector.
New items will be introduced into the collective agreements for both sectors on promoting well-being at work and preventing violence. In the ski centre sector, the remuneration system will also be developed during the agreement period.
Selin considers the settlement to be appropriate for these sectors.
– In these sectors there are traditions for local agreement, as demonstrated for example by the annual working time system applied locally in the ski centre sector, Selin says.
Many of the permanent employees in the sectors work in companies that are used to co-operating.
– We believe that it is possible to agree on wages taking into account local conditions. As it says in the mediation proposal, the objective is to find a wage settlement corresponding to the situation and needs of each company or job, Selin stresses.
Selin is confident that the majority of workers in the sector will be covered by local agreements in which the wage settlement is good from the workers’ perspective.
The agreements include a so-called fallback clause, which guarantees all workers in the sector wage rises of 1.6% if local agreement is not reached or if no shop steward has yet been elected in the company, which is required for local agreement.
The mediation proposals of the National Conciliator can be found in their entirety here. (In Finnish)