Collective agreement negotiations are underway in several sectors where members of Research Professionals work.
Negotiations are currently underway for the agreements of state, church, and university employees. The contract negotiations for the personnel of the municipalities and the wellbeing services county will also take place this spring.
The majority of Research Professionals’ members work in the university sector. In negotiations for universities, the state, and municipalities, the members of the union are represented by the negotiation organization JUKO. For research professionals working in the private sector, collective agreements are negotiated by YTN.
Below, you will find information on the negotiation status of different sectors. The latest updates can be found through the communication channels of the negotiation organizations, which are worth following.
JUKO
University sector
Negotiations on the collective agreement for universities began on Tuesday, February 4. The current general collective agreement for universities will expire on March 31, 2025, and negotiation meetings have been scheduled at regular intervals until the end of March.
There are 13 universities in Finland, employing a total of 35,000 people.
Employees in the negotiations are represented by JUKO, the Trade Union Pro, and the Trade Union JHL. The employer side is represented by the Finnish Education Employers (Sivistysala ry).
JUKO represents approximately 18,000 members of its affiliated unions in university collective agreement negotiations. Members of JUKO unions work in universities in various roles, including research, teaching, administration, and management.
Follow the university sector negotiations here.
You can also find up-to-date information on the yliopistotes.fi website.
State sector
Negotiations on the state employees’ civil service and collective agreements began on Wednesday, January 15. The negotiations concern about 80,000 employees. In the state sector, more than half of the staff work in expert, supervisory, and managerial positions typical for members of JUKO-affiliated unions.
Employees in the negotiations are represented by JUKO, the Trade Union Pro, and the Public and the Trade Union JHL. The employer side is represented by the Office for the Government as Employer.
In state administration, 42,000 members of JUKO-affiliated unions work in expert, managerial, and supervisory roles.
JUKO union members are employed in nearly all state agencies and institutions. They work, for example, as police officers, officers, judges, and civil servants in central administration, customs officers, tax inspectors, project managers, department heads, researchers, and in numerous other professions and job titles.
Follow the state negotiations here.
Church sector
Negotiations on the collective agreements for employees of the Evangelical Lutheran Church began on Wednesday, January 15. The negotiations concern about 20,000 employees. The negotiations for the Church’s civil service and collective agreements are being held by JUKO, JHL/ Jyty, Kirkon alat, and Kirkon työmarkkinalaitos.
Approximately 5,000 members of JUKO-affiliated unions work in expert, supervisory, and managerial positions within the Evangelical Lutheran Church. A significant portion of them work as pastors, cantors, or in diaconal or youth worker roles. JUKO union members also work in administrative, communication, and educational positions.
Follow the church negotiations here.
YTN
Members of Research Professionals also work in the private sector, for example in universities of applied sciences and companies, in research, teaching, administration, as well as in expert, supervisory, and managerial positions. For the members of Research Professionals working in the private sector, collective agreements are negotiated by YTN.
Universities of applied sciences
The collective agreement for universities of applied sciences is valid until March 31, 2026. The salary adjustments for 2025 will be agreed upon by the parties by February 14, 2025. However, if the parties cannot reach an agreement on the salary increases for 2025, the collective agreement may be terminated, ending on April 30, 2025.