Real Estate Employers lack a vision for taking the sector forward
According to PAM’s President, there was no real progress made in negotiations, since the employers’ objective was simply to reduce staff costs, squeeze employees and transfer companies’ risks to their workers.
PAM’s President Annika Rönni-Sällinen says that facility services workers have deserved better and more predictable livelihoods.
How does it feel now that the other day we announced an overtime and shift change ban in the facility services sector, issued a strike warning and there has been an invitation from the National Conciliator for tomorrow to try to find agreement on employment terms in the sector together with the employers’ federation, Real Estate Employers?
I think I am usually known for appearing quite calm, but now beneath my calm exterior I am at the same time concerned, angry, determined, happy and confident.
You wouldn’t think a sector suffering from labour shortages could afford this sort of thing.
My concern comes from the fact that employees’ incomes in the facility services sector are getting increasingly tight. A members’ survey shows that average wages are 1837 euros, for full-time employees 2067 euros. 29 per cent of workers in the sector who responded to the PAM members’ survey work part-time. Part-time workers are increasingly uncertain about their working hours since fewer workers have a fixed amount of weekly hours. Workers feel their workload has increased, but this is not reflected in their wages.
I am angry because after a month of negotiations with the employers’ federation we have made no progress on a new collective agreement. It seems to me that Real Estate Employers lack a vision for taking the sector forward. In the negotiations their idea has been to reduce staff costs any way they can, squeeze employees and transfer companies’ risks to their workers, not to develop the sector. For example, they have proposed extending working hours without proper compensation and an overstretched working hours adjustment period.
Heating has to be adjusted, snows falls and cleanliness is essential for a healthy environment.
In real life it seems employers try to cut corners whenever possible. This is shown in midweek public holiday compensation or in attempts to get employees to accept contracts that waive the combinations of days off guaranteed in the collective agreement. You wouldn’t think a sector suffering from labour shortages could afford this sort of thing.
I am full of determination, however, because I know this is the right thing. It is right for cleaners and caretakers to get better and more predictable incomes. They need a pay rise and a better working hours review to give them more hours.
Cleaners must be paid midweek public holiday compensation just like any other workers.
Workers need certainty about when their working hours will take place to know what income they will be getting. There is no way we will agree to extend working time without it being paid for. Cutting corners on midweek public holiday compensation has to stop. This must be paid to all cleaners just like any other workers.
I am happily surprised at the actions of cleaners and caretakers across Finland. Workers want change. Employers have to realise this too so that our objectives can make progress at the negotiating table and in conciliation. That’s why tomorrow Friday 4 March we need all workers to join the overtime and shift change ban that starts then. A strike warning has been issued for 15 March.
Workers in the sector will always be needed for sure. Heating has to be adjusted, snows falls and cleanliness essential for a healthy environment.
ANNIKA RÖNNI-SÄLLINEN
PAM President. Promoting what’s right, defending the vulnerable.