TAS communication

Espoo 25th March 2009

TAS (Tieto experts’ association) has some very important information for You.

As You might have noticed, employers are very eager at the moment to lay people off due to “productional

and economic reasons” and to balance their financial situation. Several guides on industrial

relations recommend that employers hold on to competent staff during a recession and

invest in product development and training. However, in reality this rarely happens. Employers are

not capable of looking far enough in the future and seeing their expert staff as an asset for the next

economic expansion.

The technology industry is made up of the electronics, electrotechnical and metal industries, mechanical

engineering and information technology. The economic prospects in these industries are a

cause for serious concern. The state of order books, calls for tenders and the number of new orders

has diminished considerably in 2008 and early 2009 compared to 2007. The only bright spot is in

information technology, where the volume of orders has remained relatively stable.

So, the economic recession is true and in these dire times anyone who has a job should secure their

situation in case of any unwanted surprises at work. The least you can do is to be a member of an

unemployment fund. You are much better off if you belong to a trade union, where you will receive

all the support you need in both positive and negative situations in the workplace. As the chairperson

of TAS I have for a long time been able to see the benefits reaped from belonging to a trade

union. In addition to the unemployment fund payment you pay a few euros extra per month and

you will be helped in all sorts of situations. In these wretched times anyone of us might unexpectedly

need this kind of help.

After being involved in negotiations concerning cooperation within undertakings (“YTnegotiations”)

I can say that they have sometimes been conducted very badly, if not extremely

badly from the employees' point of view. Employers might lack both the skill and the desire to lay

people off in the best possible way. Sometimes denouncing staff has to be accepted, but bad management

of this process does not have to be accepted in any kind of situation. For union members,

these situations will be dealt with by people responsible for looking after your interests. You will

find your representatives through company unions and the legal services of your trade union. These

services are thus only for members of Akava. As a union member, I warmly recommend you join

TAS as well. Our membership fee is only 1 €/month. This way you will be kept abreast of what happens

in the company and in our sector.

can contact any time. TAS will also organise a social information event during spring 2009, which is

meant for TAS members and potential new members.

Best regards,

Kalevi Heino

TAS chairperson

TAS website:

www.te‐ytn.net https://mail.sefe.fi/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.te‐ytn.net