Q and A concerning the handling and sorting strike - www.pau.fi

Q and A concerning the handling and sorting strike

The Finnish Post and Logistics Union PAU’s board has decided to take collective action to combat Posti’s collective labor agreement shopping and the deteriorating of wages and working conditions. The strike will begin in the handling and sorting jobs on Sunday, September 1, 2019 at 10 pm and will end on Wednesday, September 4, 2019 at 00.00. The strike does not prevent work related to the health and safety of citizens. In this bulletin, we answer the most common questions.

Why are we on strike?

The strike is in response to the employers one-sided announcement to transfer the work to the Collective Agreement Concerning Delivery Personnel negotiated by Teollisuusliitto (Industrial Union) and Medialiitto (Finnmedia). The transfer causes employees, for example, pay cuts of 30% - 50% and numerous other reductions on work condition. The collective agreement has been made for early morning newspaper distribution and is not suitable for handling and sorting jobs. This has also been reported to PAU by Teollisuusliitto. The terms and conditions of employment regarding white-collar workers are transferred to the collective agreement between Medialiitto and Teollisuuslliito’s Grafinet.

Who is on strike?

The strike covers Ulkomaan Posti, Vantaan logistiikkakeskus, Liedon lajittelukeskus, Seinäjoen lajittelukeskus, the sorting operations in Jyväskylä, Lahti and Lappeenranta, as well as the post centers in Helsinki, Kuopio, Tampere and Oulu.

To whom is the strike allowance paid?

Strike allowance is paid to those PAU members who work in the jobs put on strike and are involved in the strike. In addition, a strike allowance of the same amount is paid to members of Paperiliitto, Rakennusliitto (the Finnish Construction Trade Union), Sähköliitto (the Finnish Electrical Workers´ Union), Suomen elintarvikeliitto SEL (Finnish Food Workers' Union SEL), JHL (The Trade Union For The Public And Welfare Sectors), PAM (Service Union United) and Teollisuusliitto (Industrial Union).

How do I apply for the strike allowance?

The strike allowance is applied for through a separate strike allowance application, which is submitted to your own local chapter. More information on this later in a separate bulletin.

I am working at Posti through a temporary agency. The employer stated that the strike is illegal, and I should not be involved, what do I do?

PAU has decided about union action, so the work will be put on strike. The jobs put on strike should not be done by anyone. The question about the strike being legal or not will be decided later in court, and the union will be held accountable, not the workers.

If I participate in the strike, will I receive a warning about unsanctioned absence?

When a trade union or its chapters decide on industrial actions, legal or illegal, they also bear responsibility for it. When an employee acts in accordance with the decision of the union, the employer can not terminate their employment. If a warning is given it has no weight on the employment.

If I do not participate in the strike, will there be consequences?

The local chapter will decide on penalties, which may include dismissal from the chapter/union.

I work in transportation or distribution and my employer assigns me to work put on strike, what do I do?

The employee has the right and the duty to refuse to do the work put on strike, do your own work as usual.

I work at a distribution office located in the handling/sorting centre, am I on strike?

If you are working under sorting and handling management, you should also be on strike. If, on the other hand, you work under distribution management, you should not be on strike.

I work in distribution, the employer has offered me a flexible/annual leave for the beginning of the week, what do I do?

According to the collective labour agreement, flexibility is agreed between the employer and the employee, and neither party alone can decide on the date of the leave. Annual leave must be announced one month before the holiday date.

Follow the situation on the union’s website at www.pau.fi. For further information, please contact: Jarmo Tuominen, Collective Agreement and Organisation Expert, tel. +358 40 315 4401, jarmo.tuominen@pau.fi, Juha Pöyry, Information Officer, tel. 040 356 0567, juha.poyry@pau.fi and Jussi Saariketo, Collective Agreement Expert, tel. +358 44 268 5110, jussi.saariketo@pau.fi. More information on collective labour agreement shopping can be found at www.tyoehtoshoppailu.fi.