The Finnish Commerce Federation has been reconciliating Trade Union Pro’s strike that threatens Suomen Kotidata – calling for patience to resolve the matter
This week, the Finnish Commerce Federation has been reconciliating the labour dispute in Suomen Kotidata Oy, a member company. The dispute concerns the collective agreement applied in the company. The Finnish Commerce Federation wishes to ensure that the Collective Agreement for the Commercial Sector can be put into effect promptly and impartially by a decision of the Labour Court in accordance with our legal system. The Finnish Commerce Federation hopes that Trade Union Pro will observe industrial peace for the duration of the investigation.
Suomen Kotidata Oy is member of the Finnish Commerce Federation and thus covered by the Collective Agreement for the Commercial Sector. Among other things, the company sells smart home appliances, software and related ancillary services in stores and at customers’ homes. Trade Union Pro believes the company should apply the collective agreement for salaried employees in the ICT sector. Trade Union Pro submitted a strike notification at Suomen Kotidata Oy, scheduled to last from 12 August to 14 August, to the National Conciliator if the company refuses to switch over to the collective agreement it proposes.
The Finnish Commerce Federation and Trade Union Pro have been reconciliating the matter under the National Conciliator throughout this week.
According to the National Conciliator, it is not possible to submit a reconciliation proposal in the labour dispute concerning Suomen Kotidata as the question of applying the Collective Agreement for the Commercial Sector must first be decided upon by the Labour Court. After this, the Finnish Commerce Federation and the company can look at possible disagreement concerning employees’ employment relationships. However, there is no time for the Labour Court to submit its decision on the collective agreement before the strike announced by Pro, which is scheduled to last from 12 August to 14 August.
”The Finnish Commerce Federation considers Trade Union Pro’s actions very regrettable and unreasonable, especially from the company’s point of view and considering that the company is waiting for the Labour Court’s decision in order to proceed lawfully. The suitability of the collective agreements applied in companies must be investigated in accordance with the legal system, not through strikes,” says Labour Market Director Anna Lavikkala from the Finnish Commerce Federation.
Further information: Anna Lavikkala, Labour Market Director, Finnish Commerce Federation, tel. +358 40 040 6088, anna.lavikkala@kauppa.fi
