In recent years, there has been a lot of discussion about the importance of local bargaining as a tool to increase Finland’s competitiveness and to promote employment and productivity.
During the autumn of 2020 and the spring of 2021, the main business organisations in Finnish export industry, the Chemical Industry Federation of Finland, the Finnish Forest Industries Federation and the Technology Industries of Finland, organised a local bargaining research project consisting of three mutually supportive perspectives. The surveys provide a valuable knowledge-based perspective on change, on a society-wide debate, and on legislative development needs.
According to the studies, it is possible to combine the needs of companies and employees in local bargaining in ways that benefit both parties. However, this requires extending and developing local bargaining through legislation. Making local agreements requires long-term cooperation, open interaction as well as trust and mutual respect in the workplace. The companies do not share the views of the trade union movement about the threats associated with local bargaining. The study also does not support the argument that a decentralized system would lead to a significant weakening of the terms and conditions of employment.
