Finnish Commerce Federation: PAM’s new strike announcements jeopardise the already negotiated solutions and delay settlement – Now targeting technical trade and specialty goods trade 

The ongoing negotiations include the Collective Agreement for the Commercial Sector, which defines the terms of employment and pay increases for the entire sector – the specialty goods trade, technical trade and daily consumer goods trade. The situation is already difficult for many shops, and the level of wages negotiated by exports already stretches many operators in the commerce sector beyond their limits. Many shops have had to start change negotiations, and large specialty goods trade operators in particular have even gone bankrupt.

“It is irresponsible to target the new wave of strikes at companies in technical trade and specialty goods trade that are currently struggling with problems,” says Anna Lavikkala, Labour Market Director at the Finnish Commerce Federation.

Among other things, PAM has demanded increasing dismissal protection as a new provision in the Collective Agreement for the Commercial Sector. In public, the demand has also been partially justified by incorrect interpretations.

“The commerce sector employs more men than women. It is incorrect to claim that the change in legislation would apply to a female-dominated sector. In the commerce sector, as in many other sectors, dismissal protection is now and will continue to be determined by law,” says Lavikkala.

“In addition, it is narrow-minded to only focus on only one provision of the collective agreement, as we have agreed on paid family leave that is better than that of many other sectors for the commerce sector, for example,” she adds.

The Finnish Commerce Federation has been constructively negotiating for two months and genuinely seeking a settlement.

“We’ve made compromises on a lot of issues, but we do also have our limits. We had already reached the end of the negotiations, and were even on the same page about the pay agreement. However, an individual goal which can no longer be negotiated got in the way of everything that had been built together. The new wave of strikes will only postpone pay increases and settlement,” she continues.

The Finnish Commerce Federation has proposed several general pay agreements that also take into account PAM’s wishes.

The bans on shift changes and transfers as well as overtime bans announced by PAM to the entire commerce sector also remain in force.

The mediation of the labour dispute will continue on 4 March, called by the National Conciliator.

For further information, please contact: Anna Lavikkala, Labour Market Director, Finnish Commerce Federation, tel. +358 (0)40 040 6088, anna.lavikkala(at)kauppa.fi

More information concerning the collective agreement negotiations for the commerce sector will also be provided in the Finnish Commerce Federation’s negotiations log.

More information on part-time work in the commerce sector >

More detailed information about the strike and specific strikes:

The strikes will start on Thursday 20 March 2025 at 5:00 a.m. and end on Friday 21 March 2025 at 11:59 p.m. or after the end of a shift that started before 11:59 p.m. The strikes will target several technical trade and specialty goods trade companies and affect shops, logistics and salaried employees. The strikes will apply to all work in line with the Collective Agreement for the Commercial Sector (including work in line with the collective agreements for supervisors) in the specified companies.

The strikes announced by PAM apply to work in line with the following collective labour agreements:

• collective agreement for the commercial sector
• collective agreement protocol for ICT salaried employees in the commercial sector
• collective agreement protocol for Hankkija-Maatalous sales personnel
• collective agreement for retail logistics supervisors
• collective agreement for retail supervisors

The strike starts on Thursday 20 March 2025 at 5:00 a.m. and ends on Friday 21 March 2025 at 11:59 p.m. or after the end of a shift that started before 11:59 p.m.

The strike applies to all operations in the following companies, including retail operations, logistics and office operations:

• AHLSELL OY
• AKATEEMINEN KIRJAKAUPPA OY
• BERNER OY
• BILTEMA SUOMI OY
• CLAS OHLSON OY
• DAHL SUOMI OY
• ETRA OY
• KAIKKI GIGANTIT
• HANKKIJA OY
• IKEA OY
• IKH OY
• IKH RETAIL OY
• INDOOR GROUP OY
• INSTRU OPTIIKKA OY
• JULA FINLAND OY
• JYSK OY
• KAR-AGENT OY
• KÄRKKÄINEN OY
• LÖYTÖTEX OY
• MASKUN KALUSTETALO OY
• KAIKKI MINI-MANIT
• MALISTA OY
• MOTONET OY
• MUSTI JA MIRRI OY
• NORMAL FINLAND OY
• OY ÖRUM AB
• PETEN KOIRATARVIKE OY
• POWER FINLAND OY
• PUUILO TAVARATALOT OY
• REXEL FINLAND OY
• RUSTA FINLAND OY
• SILMÄASEMA OPTIIKKA OY
• SONEPAR SUOMI OY (SLO)
• SUOMALAINEN KIRJAKAUPPA OY
• TIGER STORES OY
• TOOLS FINLAND OY
• VEKEN KALUSTE OY
• VELJEKSET KESKINEN OY
• COM OYJ
• WÜRTH ELEKTRONIK OY
• WÜRTH OY