Tehy, the trade union for the social care, healthcare and early childhood education sector, has accepted the new collective agreement solution for the private social services sector as part of Sote (formed by Tehy, the Finnish Union of Practical Nurses SuPer, and the Union of Private Sector Professionals Erto). The collective agreement is valid from 1 January 2026 to 30 April 2028.
In 2026, there will be both across-the-board pay increases and increases to the minimum pay grades. In autumn, on 1 September 2026, a 2.7% across-the-board increase and pay scale increase will be paid. The minimum pay grades will be increased by 0.5% in the pay groups of Tehy members. Additionally, the lowest seniority bonuses will be increased significantly.
In the autumn of 2027, on 1 September, there will be 2.7% across-the-board increase and pay scale increase.
– The negotiations were exceptionally difficult. At Tehy, we’re pleased that we could reach a solution through negotiations. Overall, this is the best achievable solution for Tehy members in the current situation, says Director of Advocacy Jarkko Pehkonen from Tehy.
The parties to the new collective agreement are the Finnish Association of Private Care Providers, representing the employer side, and Sote (Tehy, SuPer and Erto), Talentia Union of Professional Social Workers, and the social services sector alliance Salli, representing the employee side. As a result of a collective agreement solution being reached, the strikes announced by Sote for 10–12 March are cancelled.
– Although the agreement was eventually reached outside of actual mediation, the mediation efforts by National Conciliator Anu Sajavaara helped find a solution in the difficult situation, Pehkonen says.
More detailed information and a breakdown of the increases in table format are available in Finnish on the Tehy website.
Seniority bonuses help rectify lagging pay growth
The harmonisation of seniority bonuses will help rectify the lagging pay growth in Tehy members’ occupational groups. The largest single occupational group in the private social services sector are practical nurses, and raising their low seniority bonuses will help rectify the pay structure. Additionally, minimum pay will be increased by raising the pay grade minimum for all pay groups and implementing across-the-board increases.
Several clarifications and specifications were made to the collective agreement to guide the sector. The most important of these are clarifications to the payment of bonuses on final pay and the right of employees to interrupt their study leave and take paid pregnancy or parental leave.
As a new element, the solution introduces non-discrimination and equality work by the negotiating parties. The negotiating parties undertake to examine the assessment of the non-discrimination and gender impact of the collective agreement as part of the negotiation process and the efforts to clarify the collective agreement.
The aim of the negotiating parties is to close the unjustified pay gap between the private and public sectors. For this reason, the increases are targeted at minimum pay in particular, as that is where the pay gap between the sectors is largest.
The working group aims to draw up a joint proposal for an up-to-date pay system for the sector that will be appropriate and encouraging, in addition to increasing the ability of the sector to attract and retain employees.
Further information:
On the Tehy website (in Finnish only): https://www.tehy.fi/sostes
Jarkko Pehkonen, Director of Advocacy at Tehy, [email protected], tel. +358 40 531 5464