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03.03.2025 12:54

PAM announced strikes in the commerce sector – dismissal protection still a sticking point

Service Union United PAM has announced new strikes in commerce sector companies during week 12. The strike affects 41 companies, where approximately 20,000 employees and supervisors work under the commerce sector collective agreements.

Annika Rönni-Sällinen seisoo kädet ristissä sinistä taustaa vasten ja katsoo suoraan kohti. Hänellä on päättäväinen ilme.

Last Friday, PAM’s Executive Committee decided that, under current condition, negotiations on employment terms in the commerce sector were not worth continuing with the Finnish Commerce Federations. A solution was also sought last week under the leadership of the National Conciliator, but without success.

PAM’s proposal to maintain the current level of dismissal protection has not been met with understanding from the Finnish Commerce Federation, which represents commerce sector companies. In many other sectors, the current level of protection has been ensured through collective agreements, even though Orpo’s government is weakening it through legislation.

— There are a lot of precarious jobs in the commerce sector, which already makes employees’ livelihoods uncertain and their position vulnerable. Now, employers also want to weaken dismissal protection. We want to prevent that. Employees in the commerce sector and other service sectors are at risk of having weaker protection against dismissal than in other industries, says PAM’s President Annika Rönni-Sällinen.

Commerce sector companies have made record profits. In addition to safeguarding dismissal protection, PAM aims to restore employees’ purchasing power and improve the position of part-time workers.

— We regret the inconvenience caused to customers as services are disrupted. This happens because we are trying to secure a better agreement for employees, says Rönni-Sällinen.

Duration of the strike and affected companies

Today, on 3 March, PAM has issued a new strike warning for the commerce sector. If implemented, the strike will last for two days and will apply to work covered by the collective agreement for the commerce sector in consumer goods, specialty, and wholesale trade companies.

The strike will begin on Thursday, 20 March 2025 at 05:00 and end on Friday, 21 March 2025, at 23:59 or at the end of a work shift that started before 23:59.

Approximately 20,000 employees work in companies affected by the strike. Their workplaces include the following companies: Ahlsell, Akateeminen Kirjakauppa, Biltema, Clas Ohlson, Gigantti, Hankkija, Ikea, IKH and IKH Retail, Instru Optiikka, Jysk, Jula, Kärkkäinen, Löytötex, Masku, Mini-Mani, Musti ja Mirri, Normal, Peten Koiratarvike, Puuilo, Rusta, Silmäasema, Saiturin pörssi, Tiger Stores, Veljekset Keskinen, Verkkokauppa.com, and Würth.

A full list of the companies affected by the strike can be found on PAM’s website: pam.fi/strikes

Collective bargaining 2024-2025

In collective bargaining, PAM and the employers’ associations negotiate collective agreements with pay rises and other terms of employment for all workers in private service sectors.

Follow the negotiations at
pam.fi/collective-bargaining

Keywords:

collective bargaining commerce sector industrial action

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