North Karelia talks end with up to 320 full-time equivalents at risk

Employment negotiations covering all staff at North Karelia’s Siun sote wellbeing services county ended on Thursday, with estimates of positions at risk ranging from 166.8 to 320 full-time equivalents, Yle reported.

The agreement aims to save about 15.4 million euros, with 41 percent of the savings affecting staff. Changes would affect a total of 376.9 full-time equivalents among Siun sote’s roughly 8,000 employees.

Siun sote says 166.8 full-time equivalents among permanent staff are at risk of redundancy. Juko, an employee-representing negotiating organisation, puts the figure at as many as 320. The county is assessing whether some of those affected can be moved to other roles.

Other changes would involve employment terms, unfilled positions, the end of fixed-term contracts and voluntary part-time work.

Juko chief shop steward Virve Mikkonen said the organisation did not accept staff-related savings measures. She said repeated negotiations would add to previous cuts and could increase workloads, sickness absences and the departure of skilled employees.

The savings are part of a plan approved by the regional council to cover a deficit of at least 75 million euros over 2027 to 2029. Siun sote received a three-year extension from the Ministry of Finance in September to cover the deficit.

The regional board is due to decide on the agreement on 27 October. Some parts are conditional and will ultimately be decided by the regional council on 10 December.