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Home » Property services sector negotiations have started: PAM demands a fair increase in purchasing power, the recognition of professional skills in wages and equality to mid-week public holidays
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19.02.2025 12:10

Property services sector negotiations have started: PAM demands a fair increase in purchasing power, the recognition of professional skills in wages and equality to mid-week public holidays

Service Union United PAM and Real Estate Employers have started negotiations today on the collective agreement for the property services sector. In addition to a fair wage increase, PAM demands the right to education and offers solutions to the labour shortage.

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

The primary goal for PAM in the negotiations is to strengthen the purchasing power of property service sector workers. There is a genuine need for fair wage increases. According to Statistics Finland, the purchasing power of private sector property service workers has not grown at all between 2011 and 2023 due to the sharp rise in consumer prices.

The most common job titles in the property services sector are cleaner and property maintenance worker.

– Property service workers perform invaluable work that is essential to everyday life, and they should receive a living wage for it. Many workers in the sector are in a very tight financial situation due to the sharp rise in prices and cuts in social security. The resulting drop in purchasing power must now be addressed with wage increases, says PAM President Annika Rönni-Sällinen.

PAM is seeking a €250 increase in monthly wages. This target means for full-time work:

In the first year, a 6% increase, but at least €150 per month (which means an increase of 93 cents in the sector’s hourly wages).

In the second year, a 4% increase, but at least €100 per month (which means an increase of 62 cents in the sector’s hourly wages).

In addition to improving purchasing power, PAM considers it important that professional skills and expertise gained on the job are recognized in wages. An experienced and efficient worker is valuable to the employer, and this should be reflected in their pay.

Companies in the sector are struggling with labour shortages, a concern also highlighted by the Real Estate Employers. These negotiations offer an opportunity to find common solutions to this issue.

– Many companies in the sector face recruitment challenges. Rewarding professional skills and expertise would encourage employees to stay in the sector longer and attract new skilled workers, Rönni-Sällinen states.

Furthermore, employee retention can be improved by enabling flexible training and learning opportunities alongside work. In the negotiations, PAM is advocating for employees’ right to learn throughout their careers, as the technological development in the sector demands diverse skills.

For several years, part-time workers in the property services sector have faced challenges related to unpaid midweek public holidays and shift changes. In the upcoming negotiations, PAM aims to establish equal rules on weekday public holiday compensation for all employees in the sector, regardless of their employment contract.

Messages from workers in the sector frequently highlight concerns about workload and constant time pressure. Employees must have the opportunity to perform their tasks properly and with care.

– Despite competitive bidding for contracts, the allocation of work at job sites must be realistic. In the negotiations, we want to improve employees’ well-being at work by ensuring better opportunities for recovery and endurance at work, Rönni-Sällinen emphasizes.

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 property services sector

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