3/2009

Editorial

The autumn and the harvest time are here

Kerttu Pellinen
Chairman of the Association of the Finnish University and Research Establishment Staff (YHL)

Many things reach their conclusion this autumn or soon after. The agreement period is drawing to a close. There is, however, still something to be gained from this period: the across-theboard increase will show in our pay packets. The personal pay of many individuals has been or will be increased by application of development instalments. Those within the universities payment scheme will see the result in February next year.

The university establishment will change form at the turn of the year. The state is pushing the universities, their personnel and students into the cold world to manage on their own. The size of the accompanying bag of provisions varies, sometimes the bag is a little plumper but for most, it is small and light. There is no other option than going begging. It is a painful job to do among the impoverished sponsors. The state must keep in mind that it is responsible for the resources the universities need to maintain the standards of the highest education of the Finns, multidisciplinary research and culture, none of which cannot be measured in numbers or by the piece. Fundraising must not become a third duty for the universities.

The four-year term of YHL ends at the general meeting to be held in the middle of October. The past term has been hectic and full of surprises. Following the hassle caused by the pay system agreement there was no much hoped for break. The state financial and personnel administration service centre project with its different stages, the structural development of the university establishment with the merger of universities, the internal structural development of the universities and other workplaces of our members and, finally, the project to alter the  administrative and financial status of universities provided more than enough work for all YHL representatives.

Many thanks to you all, associations, members and representatives as well as the active union council. A special thank you goes to the board and the working committee. We have been through a lot during this term, worked hard and sometimes made hard decisions. Many thanks also to experts at the YHL and Pardia offices who have supported and helped us.

Representatives and decision makers for the next four years will be elected in the general meeting. It doesn’t take an especially talented fortune-teller to forecast that there will be plenty of challenges ahead to the new decision makers, too.

Thumbs up for all of us!