Savonia University staff stage first-ever strike over pay cuts and working conditions

Teachers and senior staff at Savonia University of Applied Sciences in Kuopio, Finland, walked out in a 24-hour strike on Tuesday, marking the first labour action in the history of Finnish universities of applied sciences, reports Yle.

The strike aims to pressure employers in stalled collective bargaining negotiations, with staff protesting proposed pay cuts of up to €1,000 for some employees. The employer organisation Sivista, representing educational sector employers, has tabled changes that unions describe as unreasonable weakening of terms.

At noon, employees gathered for a silent protest at the Microkatu campus. Timo Sirviö, a shop steward for the OAJ teachers’ union at Savonia, called the proposed pay reductions “unfair,” noting that a €1,000 cut would significantly impact loan repayments for affected staff.

Sirviö highlighted growing workloads due to rising student numbers, increased diversity in student needs, and a 50% drop in degree funding over the past decade. “We need better working conditions to cope with these challenges,” he said, framing the dispute as critical for education quality and national skills development.

Hannu Korhonen, a shop steward for the YTN union representing senior staff, said negotiations had stalled as employers refused to engage with union demands. YTN seeks a general pay rise to offset inflation, improved contract terms, and a fairer pay structure—not cuts. “We’re trying to maintain good working conditions and trust that employees are valued,” Korhonen said, urging progress before “shocking changes” take effect.

State-mediated talks are ongoing, but no resolution has been reached. The strike follows a week of protests across Finnish universities of applied sciences, driven by funding pressures and unmet demands for sustainable working conditions.