4/2011

Time to reflect

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

At the end of the year, it is time to review the events left behind. When preparing an account for the Union Congress I noticed that although this year has not been quite as eventful as the previous year which included university reform, all sorts of things have, however, taken place. In the spring, all our contract sectors negotiated for pay increases and their use for the second year of the agreement period. A new job requirement element was agreed for the university pay system and the part concerning co-operation of co-operation and occupational safety and health was included in the collective agreement for universities. At the same time, a round of mutual co-operation training for both employer’s representatives and staff organisations was agreed; co-operation is, after all, a mutual issue. Local co-operation agreements have been under preparation at universities and many of them are already in use. This way, the situation on practical co-operation is returning to normal.

A member survey, which was decided to be carried out during this union congress period, was conducted this year and the publication, in which the results of the survey are compared with the results of the 2007 member survey, is being prepared now. The contents of the survey will be introduced in the next issue of the Universitas magazine. We have also had cause for celebration - the 40-year journey of the union was celebrated whilst working in connection with the traditional University day.

A constant worry for us is how our members cope in the middle of constant changes. Personnel cuts caused by the productivity programme, finances becoming more stringent at all workplaces, structural changes and implementation of new methods of operations cause pressures and affect motivation for work and every day life. According to our member survey, the majority of our members tell that duties and stress have grown either to a certain extent or noticeably. Unforeseen changes are considered the biggest factor causing uncertainty. The quality of the employers’ personnel policies does not receive very good marks in the survey. Negotiations for redundancies, which are not financially necessary, are hardly likely to improve the marks – the plans in the University of Eastern Finland worry not only those that the plans concern but also personnel at other universities.

Past weeks have been a time of hectic contract negotiations. The negotiations for a collective agreement, which began unexpectedly, have been conducted ahead of schedule in accordance with the timetable defined by the framework agreement, differently from what we had prepared in advance.

Christmas is getting close again. It seems to me that it comes a little earlier each year and there is not enough time for Christmas preparations. There is no reason to feel stressed though; it is possible to enjoy the superb Christmas spirit with a little less fuss!

I wish you a good end to this year and a hopeful start to the New Year!