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Labour Deal Averts Monday's Food Industry Strike

The Union of Salaried Employees (TU) and food industry employers have reached a labour agreement that averts a three-day strike that the union was threatening to kick off on Monday night.

Elintarviketyöntekijät uhkaavat lakolla. Keski-Suomesta lakkoon ei aiota osallistua.
Image: YLE

After meeting with both sides on Sunday morning, state labour conciliator Esa Lonka proposed a deal for a two-year contract with pay raises of 0.6 percent in the spring and 0.7 percent in the autumn.

This is higher than the industry standard.

TU says they are pleased with the deal, since they won concessions on paid paternity leave and improvements to job security.

On the employer's side, the Finnish Food and Drink Industries' Federation says they can live with the deal, even though it is expensive in their opinion.

Negotiations with PAM Ongoing

In a separate food industry labour row, the Federation has threatened a two-day worker shutout if a deal is not struck with the Finnish Food Workers Union (SEL). This means employers would freeze worker wages for two days. SEL already staged a three-day strike last week, and is threatening a second strike at the end of April.

Talks are also being held Monday in two other separate labour disputes between the Association of Support Service Industries and the Service Union United (PAM).

PAM is planning a one-day strike of salespeople and shop security personnel on Friday if negotiations to solve their disputes don't make headway.

Food Industry Employers Threaten Shutout

Sources: YLE