Finnish polytechnic teachers issue strike warning over pay dispute

A strike warning has been issued by the Finnish Education Union (OAJ) affecting six polytechnics, as a labor dispute over pay remains unresolved. Negotiations, led by the national conciliator, have been ongoing since early April without a breakthrough. If no agreement is reached, three-day strikes are scheduled to commence in two phases on September 1 and September 8.

The central issue in the dispute is the "availability bonus," a supplement designed to attract skilled professionals to teaching positions instead of industry. According to Sivistystyönantajat (Sivista), the employers' association, this bonus currently benefits around 1,300 lecturers and senior lecturers in technology and transport fields. The average bonus is nearly 1,000 euros per month for lecturers and about 800 euros for senior lecturers.

Sivista claims that the proposed revision would not lower the salaries of current recipients. However, OAJ rejected a conciliation proposal from June, arguing that it did not sufficiently guarantee future salary development for teachers. OAJ had previously stated that Sivista's March proposal could have reduced some teachers' salaries by up to 1,000 euros.

Petri Lindroos, OAJ's chief negotiator, stated that discussions about reforming the availability bonus have occurred in previous negotiation rounds, but the current labor dispute specifically emerged in spring 2026. The availability bonus constitutes a significant portion of some polytechnic teachers' salaries, and OAJ is unwilling to accept changes that could undermine current salary levels or future increases. Sivista desires a new pay system where the bonus is determined by factors like an individual's expertise, regional salary levels, and labor market demand, rather than the current automatic system based on educational fields.