[front page]
archive: [2002] [2001] [2000] [1999] [1998] [1997] [by issue]
[sponsors]
[site info]
ISSN 1458-4433






ACTRAV
ETUC
XPDNC
+ Other links
© All rights reserved. The
trade union press is hearby authorised to use this material.
E-mail your comments, questions and subscription
requests to get the latest stories from this service sent free of charge directly to your
e-mailbox.
The news service is sponsored by SAK,
the largest central trade union in Finland, and ten of its 23 affiliated unions.
If you want the text quicklyto be translated
into French, German, Italian, Portuguese or Spanish, you may try Babel fish, but remember what its
provider says: "Machine translation produces reasonable results in many cases. But
you should not rely on it." |

Chemical and
textile
workers unions mergeHelsinki (09.04.2002 -
Juhani Artto) The Chemical Workers Union and the Textile and Garment Workers
Union are to merge in spring 2004. A letter of intent concerning the merger was signed by
the unions in March. This conclusion is based on a careful analysis of the strengths and
weaknesses of the merger strategy.
The main goal of the merger is to improve the effectiveness of work to safeguard
workers interests and provide services to members.
The Chemical Workers Union currently has 34,600 members, 60 per cent of whom are
men, while the Textile and Garment Workers Union has 16,300 members, 86 per cent of
whom are women. |
|
Global Positioning System (GPS) improves lumberjack safety in
Lapland Lumberjacks
working for the forest industry giant Stora Enso in Lapland now enjoy additional
occupational safety. The improvement is based on the Global Positioning System (GPS). When
alone in the forest in an emergency situation, the lumberjack need only push the emergency
button of his mobile telephone. This sends an alarm to the regional emergency centre.
Using a satellite connection the GPS application eliminates all loss of time involved in
searching for the accident victim.
- Source: Särmä 4-2002 |
The two organisations have many common features
providing a solid basis for the merger. The Chemical Workers Union is a party to
seven major national collective agreements, while the Textile and Garment Workers
Union has two. All of these agreements will remain in force, as the organising fields of
the two organisations do not overlap. The Chemical Workers Union represents workers
in the chemical, petrochemical, rubber, pharmaceutical, glass and porcelain industries and
the laundry workers.
Both unions have a sound financial position and a long tradition of providing broad
educating for their activists and rank and file members. Both organisations elect their
leaderships by democratic procedures, resulting in clear social-democratic majorities.
Other elected members of the union management structure are either members or supporters
of the Leftist Alliance.
The unemployment rate of the Chemical Workers Union rank and file is about ten
per cent. The rate in the Textile and Garment Workers Union is about 20 per cent.
Both rates are currently decreasing.
Jobs in the textile and garment industry have decreased dramatically since the 1970s.
In the same way as for this industry in other Western European countries, the Finnish
textile and garment sector could not respond effectively to the competition from low-pay
economies. While several companies have survived by beginning to subcontract in low-pay
countries, many others have simply ceased trading. In the first wave of job losses in the
1970s the target was Portugal. This was followed by the Far East and, since the early
1990s, Estonia and the neighbouring regions of Russia.
Last autumn and winter the Chemical Workers Union waged a high-profile campaign
against the merger negotiated by the owners of the Finnish Kemira and the Swedish Dynea.
Kemira is a listed company in which the Finnish State is principal owner. In a rare
revolt, which was spearheaded by the Chemical Workers Union, the Finnish Parliament
rejected the government's proposal for the merger.
Working in a shrinking industry, the Textile and Garment Workers Union has had a
lower profile than the Chemical Workers' Union in recent years, but this difference seems
to constitute no impediment to the eventual merger planned for spring 2004. |
Other sites on economy and
working life: |
Everything
at stake - safeguarding interests in a world without frontiers
Statistics Finland
Occupational safety and
health in Finland, Socius 2-2001 (pdf-file)
Documents of the SAK 16th Congress 28-30.5.2001
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
Etusivu - The Finnish Link Resource
Helsinki Camera - Views
over the city
Virtual Finland - Information about
Finland - Facts about Finland
provided by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Finland - World Fact Book entry -
tons of links!
Statistics Finland
Helsingin Sanomat - International
Edition - News from Finland
Need a reliable lawyer - The
Finnish Bar Association can help
Moving to Finland? -
Directorate of Immigration
Ministry of Labour Migration
affairs page
National Equal Opportunities Network -
Fighting discrimination
|