Resolution by the Council of the Service Union United PAM: Service workers have the right to a healthy and safe working life
PAM’s Council is particularly concerned about the adverse effects of the corona on the health and safety of service workers.
The past spring has demanded unprecedented flexibility from every service professional, and these flexibilities are not yet running out. Service professionals have been driven to a very tight and extreme level of resilience due to layoffs and termination of employment. The mental and physical strain has been unreasonable in many places. The price of this crisis will still be costly, including a significant increase in mental health problems.
In the tourism and restaurant sector, the crisis only seems to be worsening. The almost complete collapse of air transport, travelling and tourism has been a catastrophic blow to the whole sector, but also to the country’s economy. Insufficient solutions have also been made to save tourism and leisure services in Northern Finland. Corona’s next waves are feared to be even a death blow to the entire industry. Tourism has a significant multiplier effect on all work in the service sector and therefore securing jobs in all service sectors is paramount and should be taken seriously. Collective bargaining in the tourism and restaurant sector was pushed forward from spring to this autumn. These negotiations are now taking place in a very difficult situation.
The public debate to extend local bargaining requires the development and strengthening of shop steward systems in the workplace. It is unfounded to claim that local agreement is not possible at this time. Almost all collective agreements in the service sector offer the possibility of agreeing locally, even if no shop steward has been selected for the workplace. Wider local agreement can only be increased when workplaces respect jointly agreed working conditions.
However, the future must be seen and trusted. When everyone belongs to an association in their own field, we are better able to ensure that service sectors remain vibrant and attractive. Together we are the future of the service industries.