Finland: Nokia Siemens unions fight two battles to manage restructurings

In Finland, where NSN employed 7,200 people at the end of 2011, the cuts should affect 700 people in Espoo, 150 in Oulu and 350 in Tempere.  The unions concerned – Metalliliitto, Pro, UIM and TEK –, which signed the company’s collective agreements, immediately launched an active negotiating phase.  They are fighting two battles.  First, they are in a legal battle in the negotiations with the company’s management as regards the modalities of the layoff plan.  Since the company opened a voluntary leave window, the final number of cuts should be lower than expected, since some of the employees concerned should leave voluntarily and cash the compensation the company is giving for this defined case (which means that the employee resigns and gets, depending on how long s/he was in the company, up to several years’ pay).  The amount of compensation is not public and employees sign a confidentiality agreement when they take the offer.  Besides, please note that it is easy for Nokia employees to find another job as they were well trained and come from a prestigious company. 
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

eave voluntarily and cash the compensation the company is giving for this defined case (which means that the employee resigns and gets, depending on how long s/he was in the company, up to several years’ pay). The amount of compensation is not public and employees sign a confidentiality agreement when they take the offer. Besides, please note that it is easy for Nokia employees to find another job as they were well trained and come from a prestigious company.

The second battle unions effectiv

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
France: Decathlon introduces a ‘duty to respect others’ right to disconnect’
A right-to-disconnect agreement was signed in late September for the French arm of the Decathlon sports retail group. It sets out a "duty to respect others’ right to disconnect" and provides...
14 November 2025
Bulgaria: government proposes 12.6% minimum wage rise for 2026
On 30 October, the Bulgarian government proposed a 12.6% increase in the minimum wage to take effect from 1 January 2026. This increase was determined according to the usual mechanism, as Bulgaria...
14 November 2025
EU: right and far right join forces in parliament to dismantle sustainability due diligence
On 13 November, the European Parliament approved the report by EPP MEP Jörgen Warborn on the proposed omnibus directive, clearing the way for trilogue negotiations. Backed by the far right, the...
13 November 2025
France: TotalEnergies steps up commitment on disability
On 9 October, French energy group TotalEnergies and all representative trade unions signed a new four-year agreement on disability inclusion. Taking effect on 1 January 2026, the deal aims to help...
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
France: austerity measures proposed in social security financing bill for 2026
Limits on sick leave, the end of social security exemptions for apprentices, and the introduction of additional birth leave: the 2026 social security financing bill, presented to parliament on 14...
16 October 2025
2
Netherlands: ING cites AI as it plans to cut around 950 jobs
Dutch bank ING has informed the employment agency UWV that it may cut around 950 jobs by 31 December 2026. In its notification on 20 October, the lender said the planned reductions stem partly...
30 October 2025
3
France: Decathlon introduces a ‘duty to respect others’ right to disconnect’
A right-to-disconnect agreement was signed in late September for the French arm of the Decathlon sports retail group. It sets out a "duty to respect others’ right to disconnect" and provides...
14 November 2025
4
United Kingdom largely retained within scope of EWCs despite Brexit, study shows
A study published this month by the Institute for Economic and Social Research, the French trade union research organisation, examined how the involvement of British representatives in European...
5
Romania: collective agreement extended to entire insurance sector
On 3 November, Romania’s National Tripartite Council for Social Dialogue approved the extension of the collective labour agreement signed on 23 May by the Confederation of Employers in the...
6
Italy: new collective agreement for managers in tertiary sector
On 5 November, the ManagerItalia union and the employers’ association Confcommercio renewed the collective agreement for managers in Italy’s tertiary, distribution and services...