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Finnish trade union angle
on globalisation: Everything
at stake - safeguarding interests in a world without frontiers Economist Jorma Antila: Metalworkers' Union achieved a good balance between growth of real incomes and employment in the 1990s Helsinki (02.01.2002 - Juhani Artto) Researcher Jorma Antila of the Finnish Metalworkers' Union has analysed the progress of income divisions between capital, wages and salaries (functional income division) in five industries, organised by the union. His statistical material covers the years 1975-2000. Until the beginning of the exceptionally deep recession of the early 1990s variations in the division between capital, wages and salaries were small i.e. the functional income division remained largely unchanged. Differing developments emerged only after this time.
Antila concludes his study by discussing the question of how successful the Metalworkers' union has been in its collective bargaining. Maintenance of the "wage and salary norm" (where real income growth matches growth in productivity) keeps the functional income division unchanged. However, Antila notes, it is only reasonable to apply this criterion in a full employment situation. In the early 1990s, with the wage and salary norm as the starting point, the union's collective bargaining was not entirely successful. However results were good with regard to functional income division. In the late 1990s the union succeeded well, measured both by the wage and salary norm and by functional income division, except in the electronics industry. After the recession of the early 1990s the industries organised by the Metalworkers' Union stayed far away from full employment. This was a significant factor in collective bargaining. The union acted wisely by leaving "space" for growth in employment. |
Occupational safety and
health in Finland, Socius 2-2001 (pdf-file) Ten years of working conditions in the European Union, Eurofound's research summary (pdf-file) In terms of real property, one Finland equals two Nokias, Helsingin Sanomat 08.01.2001 The growth of the Finnish economy did not eradicate unemployment, Helsingin Sanomat 03.01.2001 Only one Finn in nine actually retire as late as 65, Helsingin Sanomat 02.01.2001 Incomes policy agreement approved; The incomes policy agreement in a nutshell;The economic backgrounf of the incomes policy agreement SAK 15.12.2000 Collective bargaining in Finland 1999-2000, Pekka Sauramo, Labour Institute for Economic Research, Helsinki (pdf-file) Working environment greater cause of absenteeism than lifestyle Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 05.12.2000 New job creation down 50 % this year Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 01.12.2000 Made in Hong Finland Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 28.11.2000 Bars and restaurants among Finland's most hazardous work places Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 27.11.2000 Finland faces labour shortage in all sectors in 2005 Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 23.11.2000 New two-year incomes agreement announced Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 17.11.2000 Increased disparities in wealth distribution Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 09.11.2000 Floating shopping centers might become a thing of the past Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 24.10.2000 SAK member unions vote to go with two-year wage deal Helsingin Sanomat International Edition 03.10.2000 National Economy and State Finances Ministry of Finance Occupational Safety and Health Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Dispute highlights threats to Finnish seafarers' jobs eironline Strikes break out as bargaining round nears conclusion eironline "Barometer" examines industrial relations in Baltic states eironline Strike levels fall in 1999 eironline Action programme launched to promote "ability to cope" at work eironline SAK computer campaign proves successful eironline European working time conference held in Helsinki eironline
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