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SAK is firmly of the opinion that the new incomes policy agreement, which is currently
being negotiated, must support equal opportunities in the labour market for both men and
women. To this end, SAK is seeking pay awards which would be defined in terms of cash
rather than in percentages. Furthermore, all pay rises should contain a sectoral equality
element which would lessen the existing gap in pay between men and women. At present
women's wages and salaries are only in the region of 80% of those paid to men. SAK is due
to set its precise pay targets on the 24th of October.In addition to this, SAK is requesting the inclusion, in the incomes
policy agreement, of an incomes development guarantee in order to ensure that wages and
salaries in the various sectors of industry will develop at an equal rate. Wages and
salaries in the private sector tend to rise to a level which is somewhat higher than that
agreed, although this does not generally apply in the public sector. Of the SAK membership
in total, 35% of females, but only 14% of males, are employed by the local authorities or
by the state.
Increased vocational competence is another goal of SAK,
which would improve equal opportunities in the world of work. SAK is demanding the
provision, for part-time workers, of a minimum number of working hours. This could, for
example, consist of four hours per day. At present, a quarter of the SAK female membership
is in atypical employment. The total membership of SAK exceeds one million and 46% of
these are women.
As the largest organisation within the Finnish trade union
movement, SAK is of the opinion that it is important to develop a solution, in order to
reconcile the demands of both work and family life. This is a basic prerequisite for women
to be able to work. SAK proposes that the indirect costs which are incurred, by the caring
by parents of their sick children, shall be distributed evenly between the male and female
dominated occupations.
Negotiations on the incomes policy agreement will continue
during the last week in October at an accelerated speed. It is the intention of the social
partners and of the Government to reach a tripartite agreement in early November, after
which the trade unions and the employers' federations will have one month in which to
fashion the agreement to suit each separate sector of industry. The actual incomes policy
agreement is scheduled to be signed prior to the 6th of December, which is
Finnish Independence Day.
Leena Seretin |
