Change Negotiations

In change negotiations, i.e. more commonly known as co-operation negotiations, the employer is obliged to comply with the Co-operation Act if it regularly has at least 20 employees. However, if the number of employees is less than 20, the employer is obliged under the Employment Contracts Act to explain to the employee to be terminated the grounds and options for termination before it terminates the employee's employment contract on a production or financial basis.

The personnel representative negotiates on behalf of the personnel with the employer. This person can be selected in accordance with the Act on Co-operation. We always recommend the selection of a shop steward (if a collective agreement is followed) or a personnel representative (no collective agreement), as this promotes cooperation and dialogue between employees and the employer even outside times of crisis. If the person in question has not been selected in advance, the agreed other representative shall be chosen as the negotiator.

Employees should never agree to a negotiator being chosen only for a specific negotiation (so-called ad hoc representative). This is because the chosen negotiator does not have special protection against dismissal in individual cases.

We help employees before, during and after negotiations, as well as in representative elections. For example, we organize change negotiation information either on-site or remotely, whichever is best for the employees. You can notify us of negotiations that are about to start or contact us in other matters by e-mail: peliala@peliala.fi or via the Finnish Association of Engineers' customer service.

Breach of change negotiation obligations

If an employer violates the provisions of the Co-operation Act concerning change negotiations, they may be sentenced to pay compensation to employees who have been laid off, laid off, part-time employees or who are the subject of an essential other condition of the employment contract. The change negotiations are subject to precise regulations, obligations and responsibilities, which must be complied with.