Finland
1910 – 1940s
The First Collective Agreements in the Hairdressing Field (1910s–1940s)
Finland’s hairdressing sector saw its first forms of organized labour agreements during the first half of the 20th century. The sector’s earliest wage and working‑condition agreements helped shape the idea that hairdressers—despite often working as small business employees or independent practitioners—also deserved formal labour protections.
2000
The Establishment of PAM ry
A major milestone for the entire service sector, including hairdressers, was the founding of Palvelualojen ammattiliitto PAM ry on 28 November 2000. PAM was formed through the merger of several service‑sector unions, consolidating labour representation. Since its foundation, PAM has acted as the central union defending the rights of workers in private service sectors—including hairdressing—by negotiating collective agreements and protecting employee rights.
2018
The Termination of the Hairdressing Sector’s Collective Agreement
In 2018, the long‑standing collective agreement in the Finnish hairdressing sector came to an end. Finland’s hairdressing sector previously had a generally binding national collective agreement negotiated between PAM and Suomen Hiusyrittäjät. However, on 30 October 2018, Suomen Hiusyrittäjät unilaterally terminated the agreement.
PAM stated the parties had already reached agreement on wages.
Employers, however, demanded additional broad weakening of working conditions beyond wage issues.
When PAM refused to weaken the agreement, the employers' association terminated it.
This dispute went to the Labour Court, which ruled in 2019 that the termination was valid.
When the national Collective agreement ended, the sector entered a contractless state, and after that PAM has tried new negotiations with Palta (employer union) and Finnish Commerce employer union, but both negotiations has failed.
PAM has also switched strategy by trying to negotiate company‑specific agreements, but companies did not share the intrest to sign a collective agreements for the branch.
2026
PAM’s Active Efforts in 2026 to sign a New Collective Agreement for the Hairdressing Sector
In 2026, PAM ry is still actively working to agree a new collective agreement for the hairdressing sector, which includes efforts to find an Emploter Union that shares the mutual interest to sign a collective agreement for the branch.