Pelastusopisto in Kuopio to initiate cooperation negotiations amid government cost-saving requirements

The Pelastusopisto, located in Kuopio, will begin cooperation negotiations on Monday due to cost-saving requirements from the government. According to the institution’s rector, Mervi Parviainen, this is a historic situation as the Pelastusopisto has never previously engaged in such negotiations due to financial circumstances. The negotiations will affect the entire staff and are focused on the year 2025. The Ministry of the Interior’s productivity program for the coming year mandates that the Pelastusopisto must save €600,000.

As a result of the negotiations, there may be significant changes to the roles of up to five employees, and part-time work may be offered to 2-3 staff members. Parviainen notes that proposed measures include limiting training activities, changing job descriptions, and reallocating roles. “We aim to first explore softer solutions to avoid layoffs,” she stated.

The budget for Pelastusopisto for the next year is approximately €20.5 million, already accounting for the productivity program’s savings target. Parviainen mentioned that potential changes to educational activities could have far-reaching implications for the entire sector, including possible reductions in the number of students accepted into certain programs and the suspension of specific courses.

The government’s budget proposal allocated €900,000 next year to increase the number of firefighters in training. However, Parviainen indicated that the institution needed an additional €1 million for this purpose.

The current plan also suggests further savings for the Pelastusopisto will occur from 2026 to 2028, totaling over €1.2 million. Parviainen has warned staff that such negotiations may continue in upcoming years, emphasizing the need for clarity on future funding and savings measures. Established in 1995, Pelastusopisto is a national institution and government agency responsible for professional training in emergency services and preparedness education, employing 145 people.