Trade Union JHL did not accept the settlement proposal for the private social services sector – Our values are not for sale

The Union Council of Trade Union JHL did not accept the settlement proposal that the National Conciliator issued for the collective agreement dispute of the private social services sector on Saturday evening. Disagreement on the level of pay increases and on developing the terms and conditions of employment in the sector continues. JHL’s strike will start in accordance with the earlier announcement on Tuesday 17 February. 

The strike that concerns selected private social services sector workplaces in different parts of Finland and specific pay groups at member companies of Hali will take place on 17–19 February 2026. The ban on temporary transfers and the instruction to do work shift changes only as overtime work, which were issued to support the strike action, remain in effect as well.

View the strike locations and more information on the industrial action on JHL’s website.    

The proposed settlement does not fix the pay gap, it only makes the gap wider

According to JHL, the National Conciliator’s settlement proposal does not meet the real needs of the sector nor secure fair pay development for the employees.

“A strike is never an end in itself. The proposed settlement does not fix the pay gap, it only makes the gap wider. Our values are not for sale, and JHL’s objectives are not met sufficiently. That is why we could not accept the proposal”, stresses JHL’s President Håkan Ekström.

Ekström reminds that the professionals in the private social services sector do demanding work with significant responsibility, and their pays cannot be left permanently behind the pays for the same work in the public sector.

“The pay disparity compared to the SOTE agreement in the public sector has grown for a long time. The rejected settlement proposal would not have fixed the problem. On the contrary, it would have made the problem even bigger.

The proposed agreement text changes that should improve the terms and conditions of employment were also not sufficient and would not have compensated for the shortcomings of the pay increase proposal.

“Furthermore, the texts were written so that they were not binding for the employer and their realisation rather depended on the employer’s willingness”, Ekström adds.

EK’s export-led model and the Government’s actions make the situation harder

JHL criticises the tight coordination of the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK), which prevents developing pays in individual sectors. When similar pay increase percentages are applied to all sectors, the pay gaps of low-paid female-dominated sectors just grow wider.

At the same time, the Finnish Government’s cost-cutting measures and legislative changes increase insecurity in the sector. An example of this is the change that would permit making fixed-term employment contracts for a maximum of one year without specifying the grounds. This would affect especially female-dominated sectors. When fixed-term employment contracts can be made without specified grounds, it will increase the risk of discrimination for pregnancy and family leaves and make working life more insecure.

“The National Conciliator should have considered gender equality issues better in the proposal”, Ekström states.

The employer party has stuck to the general pay increase level of the export-led model, and that prevents fixing pay gaps. 

“Pay development of the female-dominated sectors has been locked into place. The employer party and the recent legislation have made the package so tight that obvious pay gaps cannot be fixed. These decisions leave no chance for progress in female-dominated sectors.

“JHL cannot accept a dictation policy. The settlement proposal that was issued would increase the pay gap in terms of euros compared to export sectors and also compared to the public sector, where the pay for the same work is significantly better. We do not accept this”, Ekström emphasises.

Protracted negotiations did not produce a solution

The rejected settlement proposal followed negotiations that have been conducted since November. The National Conciliator began mediating the dispute at the end of January. JHL’s view is that the settlement proposal did not include fixes for points that are critical for the employees in this sector.

“We still hope that a solution is reached as soon as possible. But the solution must be fair for those who do work that is necessary for the entire Finnish welfare state. We cannot accept an agreement that cements too low pays and undermines the future of the sector”, Ekström stresses.

The collective agreement for the private social services sector covers for example services for the elderly and for people with disabilities, mother-and-child homes, shelters, child welfare institutions, personal assistance and home help services. Over 90% of the employees are women.

More information:
President of Trade Union JHL Håkan Ekström, 040 828 2865