OAJ has initiated an overtime and shift-trading ban in private day-care centres
The overtime and shift-trading ban initiated by OAJ in private day-care centres began today, 8 October. The ban is in protest of the Finnish government’s intentions to weaken employees’ protection against dismissal in small companies.
Among OAJ members, the overtime and shift-trading ban concerns early childhood education teachers and day-care centre directors working in private day-care centres. The ban is in force until further notice. At this stage, it does not apply to municipal day-care centres.
Negotiations Director Petri Lindroos points out that every OAJ member is needed for the overtime and shift-trading ban.
“By refusing to work overtime or trade shifts, our members can genuinely help prevent the weakening of employees’ dismissal protection,” he says.
OAJ’s overtime and shift-trading ban is aimed at the weakening of employees’ dismissal protection, not at the employer. Lindroos stresses that the weakening of protection against dismissal would place employees on an unequal footing based on the size of the company. The weakened protection would also target OAJ’s predominantly female member group.
In practice, the overtime and shift-trading ban means that OAJ members will not work overtime or trade shifts. The ban concerns day-care centres that apply either the Collective Agreement for the Private Social Services Sector or the collective agreement of the employers’ association Avaintyönantajat Avainta ry. OAJ’s shop stewards are excluded from the ban.
Text: Riitta Korkeakivi