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06.03.2025 15:05

Worrying messages from the property services sector: “Life is just about surviving, and there’s no money for anything extra”

Workers are sending grim messages to the property services sector’s collective bargaining table. Many are struggling financially after price increases and the cuts imposed by the Orpo-Purra government. There is a strong need for wage increases among professionals in the sector.

Collective agreement negotiations for the property services sector began in February, and the current agreement remains in force until the end of March. Workers in the sector—such as cleaners and property maintenance workers—are sending a harsh reality check to the negotiating table: wages are insufficient, and the pace of work is relentless.

PAM has been asking workers how they have been coping in the early months of the year.

– Life is just about surviving, and there’s no money for anything extra! I truly hope that cleaners will be more appreciated and that wages will reflect that. Without us, the world would be drowning in trash and filth, and nothing would function, says Johanna from Kaarina.

Wages Must Provide a Genuine Livelihood

PAM’s collective bargaining expert Kaarina Ahonen says that workers’ messages reflect the extremely difficult circumstances they face in terms of financial security and endurance.

– The daily experiences of workers are deeply concerning. We believe that wages in Finland must provide a genuine livelihood. Especially now, when many workers have seen cuts to their housing benefits and other social security, the need for a fair wage increase is urgent, Ahonen states.

In the negotiations, PAM is aiming to improve workers’ purchasing power, ensure that wages reflect professional skills, and promote equality in holiday pay practices. More details on these objectives can be found.

Ahonen emphasizes that member support is crucial at the negotiating table.

– In addition to wage increases, we have many other goals in these negotiations. Success is only possible if we have strong support from workers and union members. That’s why it’s important to talk about the negotiations at workplaces and encourage colleagues to join the union. We always stress the importance of membership, but it truly makes a difference and strengthens our bargaining position.

Workload and Wages Do Not Go Hand in Hand

Jenna, a cleaner from Kouvola, highlights the heavy workload. Due to competitive bidding, work allocations for cleaning sites have been pushed to extreme limits.

– The work of a cleaner is not valued at the site where I work. Tasks keep increasing, but my salary stays the same. My supervisor doesn’t understand sick leaves—sometimes I feel too afraid to even call in sick, Jenna writes.

Liisa from Jyväskylä shares a similar experience.

– It’s frustrating when you have to rush through tasks because there are no replacements for absent colleagues. When filling in, I do a full-time job in just a few hours. It’s exhausting because the employer always expects you to stretch yourself. There’s work to do, but not enough time to do it properly. But according to my employer, there is plenty of time, she says.

Wages Are Not Enough for Everyday Costs

Prices have risen sharply in recent years. Wages buy significantly less than they did just a few years ago, and this is evident in workers’ testimonies.

– My salary isn’t enough for food and bills. Life is extremely tight for a family with children, says Esa, a property maintenance worker from Vaasa.

Some even have to cut back on necessities like food and medicine. Sami, a property maintenance worker from Vantaa, shares his experience.

– My salary doesn’t even cover all my bills, let alone food, hygiene products, and medicine. There’s absolutely no chance of going to the movies or doing anything fun—money runs out before the next paycheck arrives.

A Turbulent Start to the Year in the Labour Market—Tough Negotiations Expected for the Property Services Sector

News reports throughout the beginning of the year have covered extremely difficult negotiations in industries such as retail and manufacturing.

Employer coordination has been tight, and the Orpo government’s law on an export-driven wage model restricts the National Conciliator’s ability to propose higher wage increases for other sectors, even if there is a clear need.

– It’s important to remember that in collective agreement negotiations, employers also bring their own objectives to the table, and these usually do not include improving workers’ conditions, Ahonen reminds.

The entire collective agreement is up for negotiation. Wage increases and other working conditions are not guaranteed, even if agreements have already been reached in other industries. That’s why member engagement is key in the property services sector as well.

– We achieve this together, and without members, there are no employment terms at all. Everyone is needed, and at the negotiating table, the support from members is truly felt, Ahonen concludes.

PAM negotiates a better working life

Collective agreement negotiations for private service sectors begin soon.

PAM’s goals in this round of negotiations

  • Fair pay
  • Enough working hours
  • Manageable workload
  • More say in the job
  • The right to learn

Follow negotiations in your sector

Text: Pauli Unkuri. Picture: Shutterstock.

Keywords:

collective bargaining income property services sector

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