Local solutions concerning the planning of total working hours at universities
In the spring of 2026, Sivista and the trade unions JUKO, Pro and JHL joined forces to conduct a survey with universities concerning solutions for the planning of total working hours. Twelve universities responded to the survey. Shop stewards and employer representatives gave their responses to the survey jointly.
Two universities decided on carrying out a trial in accordance with the additional protocol of the collective agreement concerning total working hours. Five universities decided to carry on with their current practices and four universities entered into a local agreement concerning the principles applicable to work plans. A local agreement, concluded previously, was already in use at one of the universities.
Half of the universities that responded to the survey had agreed on the principles applicable to work plans through an agreement which is valid until further notice, and the other half through a fixed-term agreement. A majority of the universities that responded to the survey (67%) agreed on carrying out joint monitoring in the years to come.
In the open responses, the joint training organised by the parties to the collective agreement in autumn 2025 was given positive feedback. The instructions provided in the additional protocol of the collective agreement were criticised for being too broad or open to interpretation. Based on the open responses, it can be said that the negotiations or discussions concerning the principles of work plans proceeded, for the most part, in an amicable and constructive manner.
The parties to the collective agreement agreed that, in the coming years, they will monitor local practices related to work plans and the functionality of the agreements, as well as the experiences and observations gained from the total working hours trial.
Further information:
Hanne Salonen, Labour Market Director, Finnish Education Employers (Sivistysala ry)
Kari Eskola, Negotiations Manager, Negotiation Organisation for Public Sector Professionals (JUKO)
Ira Kyntäjä, National Collective Agreement Specialist Lawyer, Trade Union Pro
Matti Sallila, Contractual Specialist, Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors (JHL)
Facts
- The collective agreement for universities lays down the total working hours (1,612 hours per academic year), which are adhered to in the work contracts of the teaching and research faculty.
- The collective agreement solution for universities in 2025–2028 stipulates that universities either agree locally on the principles applicable to the planning of total working hours, continue with their current practices, or experiment with a new approach to the planning of total working hours.
- In a survey carried out in the spring of 2026, the parties examined the solutions undertaken by the universities and their thoughts about the process, based on their experiences.