“PAM and Kauppaliitto are far from each other in their views – also on issues other than remuneration”, Annika Rönni-SällinenPAM’s chairman stated press release on Tuesday.
The trade union continues to pursue wage increases of around 200 euros.
The trade union stated in its press release that it had put forward several proposals to resolve the dispute, including one that would have guaranteed low-paid cashiers raises above the so-called general wage increase. The union also announced that it is ready to make several concessions and to discuss the development of the reward system for cash registers in accordance with PAM’s goals.
“Reforms require strong collective will, mutual commitment and trust, and they cannot be built by striking.” said Anna LavikkalaDirector of Labor Market Affairs of the Finnish Trade Union.
It is unclear how many of the supermarkets will be able to stay open using supervisors and order workers.
“Companies are certainly trying to keep their doors open with managers, contract workers and by pressuring staff to work. However, the employees are ready to fight for a better salary. So I can’t estimate how many stores will be closed, how many will limit their opening hours and so on. Risto KalliorinnePAM’s organizational director, stated For Helsingin Sanomat on Tuesday.
The trade union has assured that the strike will not cause a food shortage.
Sampo Top sawS group’s grocery manager, told the daily that the store chain’s primary goal is to keep its stores open even during the strike, and admitted that some may have to do so with fewer cash registers and limited opening hours.
“The two-day strike may have some impact on our operations and, for individual stores, the product selection,” he said, stressing that he did not accept the claim that workers would be pressured to work during the strike.
“We respect the workers’ right to strike,” he emphasized.
The strike is the first industrial action directed at grocery stores and the logistics centers that serve them.
On February 13, a days-long work stoppage will begin at the logistics centers. The shutdown is to be extended to cover more than 400 grocery stores and 26,000 employees during the three days of 16-18. February. The strike at logistics centers is scheduled to begin on February 20, after the Ministry of Economy and Labor postponed it by two weeks.
The industry’s collective agreement ended on January 31. The Office of the National Mediator assessed yesterday that the parties to the dispute are so far apart in their views that presenting a settlement proposal is unrealistic, even though the text of the agreement has made some progress. The national mediator will then contact the parties to find out when the negotiations can continue.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT
Source: The Nordic Page