Vote confirms agreement on pay and health of social workers and childcare staff

The FNV trade union has again criticised the failure to provide adequate personal protective equipment and COVID-19 testing for health staff. The unions says that at least nine health workers have died as a result of the virus and that measures still need to be taken to ensure that safety is prioritised. The FNV also argues that this is a longer term problem and the involvement of employees in safety protocols is essential. Meanwhile the union has confirmed that the collective agreement covering social workers has been declared generally binding and so covers all workers in the sector. The two

After a marathon five-day negotiating session, public services union ver.di has secured new agreements on pay rates and health covering around 220,000 social and childcare workers. The agreement on health acknowledges the increased responsibility and workload of social workers and childcare workers and introduces health committees, health working groups and risk assessments to address these problems. The revised pay structure will mean that a newly recruited childcare worker will start on €2240 a month instead of €2130 and after four years this will rise to €2400, up from €2240. The deal has

Wages and salaries of all employees in the state sector will be increased from the beginning of March 2012 by 1.9% but with a minimum increase worth €39.50 per month. In addition in March a lump sum of €150 will be paid. A further pay rise of 1.4% will be paid in April 2013. In addition, 1 March 2012 and 1 March 2013 wages and salaries will be increased on average by 0.5% on the basis of the outcome of local negotiations. Unions welcome the fact that lower paid workers will benefit from having the minimum amount set in euros. According to Eurostat the latest figure for inflation in Finland is