Lauri Ihalainen, the President of SAK
Networking in European level bargaining

- However, we still have a long way to go before joint guidelines for European pay levels can be determined, although the European coordination of wages and salaries is growing.

The cultural differences between the various European countries are prominent enough, and therefore clarification of various concepts, and the factors on which the statistics are based, will be necessary. Comparability should be improved, for example by the creation of statistics which are based on jointly defined concepts.

- In addition labour legislation tends to vary from country to country, and thus we have no common legal basis for bargaining or for industrial action, says Lauri Ihalainen on the opportunities for bargaining on a European level.

The primary goal of the European trade union movement at present, is to achieve the inclusion of trade union rights in the Treaty, when it is reviewed in the next EU Intergovernmental Conference. This means the inclusion of the right to bargain, to negotiate terms and conditions and to take industrial action on the pan-European level.

Lauri Ihalainen is of the opinion that bargaining on the European level will start by means of networking and it is likely that pan-European agreements will be concluded in the future. It is quite possible that this will happen much more quickly than we at present anticipate, and therefore we must be prepared. Cross-border trade union membership in Europe is another matter for which we should prepare ourselves. Although trade unions at present are national organisations, I would not be at all surprised to see the existence of European trade unions in ten years time.

ETUC needs more expertise and resources

The President of SAK, Lauri Ihalainen, forecasts that the International Trade Secretariats will in future gain a more central role in the bargaining process and that the ETUC will be increasingly involved in the field of labour legislation. He is of the opinion that the level of expertise and resources within the ETUC should be raised. As a European trade union central organisation, the primary tasks of the ETUC will be those of coordination and expertise, and the Secretariats will have their separately defined areas of responsibility. This division of work between these organisations could be compared to that between a national central organisation and its affiliated unions. A stronger ETUC will also be necessary due to the future enlargement of the EU. The Finnish trade union movement supports this EU enlargement and is aware that the applicant countries will need a great deal of sponsorship and assistance in the development of labour market issues in their respective countries.

Cross-border solidarity will also increase. Within the metals industry, for example, discussions are not restricted to national viewpoints and matters are already being debated with a wider European perspective. These debates have revolved around such subjects as overtime working. It will be increasingly important that in addition to national strategies there is the development of European strategies for trade union issues, says Lauri Ihalainen.

Our policies should not be restricted to Europe alone

Lauri Ihalainen points out that our policies should not revolve solely around the EU or Europe. In a recent ILO meeting, a convention in support of the abolition of the worst forms of child labour was debated and adopted. It is extremely important that Finland, during its EU presidency, brings pressure to bear on all of the member states to ensure that this is ratified without delay. This represents part of the global implementation of basic human rights. Furthermore, a social clause which would ensure the basic rights of workers should be included in international trade regulations.

The maintenance of peace is one of the basic principles of the EU. The integration of the economic and political systems and the deeply involved partnership between the member states preclude the possibility of war within the European Union. Stability in this part of the world is the goal and therefore the enlargement of the EU is important. However, Europe is not yet ready for this. If it were, it would be impossible for a tragedy like Kosovo to be taking place in the heart of Europe.

Finland is a Northern country and a neighbour of Russia

Finland is building its welfare as a part of the Nordic Countries and on the basis of the developing Nordic dimension. However, emphasises Lauri Ihalainen, I would also like to mention the good relations that we have with Russia and with its trade union movement, and with our Baltic neighbours, particularly that with Estonia. We work in joint partnership with all these countries, with the aim of helping them to further develop their trade union movement, we exchange information and, as good neighbours, we visit one another. In association with SASK, the Solidarity Centre of the Finnish Trade Unions, we also run joint development projects in these countries.