YTN information 18.8.2010 for technology industry

Negotiated settlement of the Federation of Professional and Managerial Staff (YTN) and the Federation of Finnish Technology Industries (TT) on autumn salary increases

A negotiated settlement was reached today, Monday 16 August, on autumn pay rises for senior salaried employees in the technology industries.

The bargaining partners YTN and TT were keen to ensure that the financial and employment prospects of workplaces should be jointly reviewed at local level. Assessments will be made by the end of September. These will initially form a basis for agreeing on the cost impact, timing and manner of implementation of salary increases reflecting the situation and needs of the workplace. The assessment will allow for cost competitiveness, productivity and incentives, and for employment and purchasing power factors.

The aim is for negotiations with staff representatives to seek a solution that corresponds to workplace conditions and improves productivity.

If no agreement on the implementation of salary increases can be reached in local bargaining, then salaries will be increased by a payroll cost impact of 1.5 per cent as of the start of the salary payment period beginning on 1 October 2010 or soonest thereafter, of which two thirds (1 per cent) will be distributed across the board and one third (0.5 per cent) will be allocated to personal salary increases.

The bargaining partners found disparities in the outlook for economic growth, with substantial differences between the impacts of economic progress on order books and employment at various enterprises in the technology industries. The latest accord between TT and YTN seeks to ensure operating conditions for industry jobs, favourable growth in productivity and purchasing power, and continued employment.

The general competitiveness of the export sector, which depends on the overall level of costs in Finland including social insurance, is a key factor in the country’s economic development.

TT and YTN have now concluded a three-year collective agreement, and the associated salary increases as of 1 October will be negotiated at annual intervals, having regard to the economic and employment outlook for the sector.

The new settlement will be submitted for consideration at the next meetings of the Executive Boards of the negotiating organisations. The YTN board will handle the settlement on Wednesday the 25th of August.