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Trade Unions & Employee Representation in Finland

Trade Unions in Finland
Dispute Resolution in Finland
Which Finnish Trade Union to Join?
Main Finnish Trade Union Confederations
Rights & Responsibilities of Finnish Employees
Other Sites of Interest


Trade Unions in Finland
See also The ABC of Finnish Trade Unions (PDF - a nice introductory guide in English/Estonian/Russian)

Approximately 80% of Finns are members of a trade union. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) recently ranked Finnish unions as amongst the most effective in the world.

The main purpose of a union is to safeguard and improve the benefits and rights of its members. This includes, for example, income development, employment security, and quality of work life.

In Finland an important function of trade unions is to run unemployment funds and to provide earnings-related unemployment benefits. These are typically much higher than the basic unemployment allowance provided by KELA (see Social Security). Many would argue that this is the primary reason for joining a union, and you should certainly enquire about joining an unemployment fund as soon as you start a new job.

Finnish unions are occupation-based. There are three main levels: Local trade unions, national federations of member local unions, and confederations which are the peak organisations made up of affiliated federations. Collective agreements covering the whole of Finland are concluded between the federations.

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Dispute Resolution in Finland

If you find yourself involved in a potential dispute with your employer, ask your shop steward (your union's representative in the workplace) for advice. If you don't know or can't reach the shop steward, contact your union and ask them how to proceed.

If you are a member of a union you will almost certainly be working under a collective agreement detailing certain terms and conditions of your employment. If disagreements arise at the workplace regarding a collective agreement or its interpretation, or if it appears that the agreement may have been broken, dispute resolution usually begins with negotiations at the workplace. Most collective agreements provide a grievance procedure for the settlement of disputes concerning the application of the agreement in question.

If the matter cannot be solved between the employees and employer, negotiations will then continue between the employer and the shop steward representing the trade union.

If the negotiations still don’t produce a solution, the matter will be forwarded to be negotiated between the employer and the wage and salary earners’ unions.

If no solution can be found at this level, either one of the unions may take the matter to the Labour Court.

Legal labour disputes that do not concern collective agreements can be taken to public courts.

See also:
Ministry of Labour's publication Industrial Relations and Labour Legislation in Finland (PDF, 06/2006)
Ministry of Labour's Web site: Labour Legislation (information & employment-related Acts)
Expat Finland's Employment Law & Disputes

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Which Finnish Trade Union to Join?

Given that employers would probably be happy for you to join the weakest union, they are not the first people to ask! When you start your new job, ask colleagues (or friends) who are in the same field which union(s) they are members of, and if they are happy with the service they are receiving. The answer will probably be clear.

You could also search the sites of the confederations below, and isolate which of their affiliated unions sounds right for you. Ask around and look on the Web for any "reviews" of that union which might be available.

A list of all Finnish unions affiliated with the confederations below, plus their contact details, is included in the publication
Guide for Foreigners Working in Finland (English / Russian / Estonian)
See also The ABC of Finnish Trade Unions (English/Estonian/Russian)

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Main Finnish Trade Union Confederations

In the Finnish private sector the most important confederations are SAK, STTK and AKAVA - it's not unlikely that you will join a union affiliated with one of these.

SAK - Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions

SAK is the biggest labour market organisation in Finland, representing the interests of over a million wage-earners. The 23 member trade unions of SAK represent workers in a range of sectors including industry, private services, local government, the state and transport.
Go to SAK's site

STTK - The Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees

21 affiliated unions representing approximately 650 000 professional employees. Sectors include industry, private services, local and regional government and the State. Among the members are nurses, technical engineers, police officers, secretaries, institute officers and salesmen.
Go to STTK's site
STTK's Guide for Foreigners Working in Finland (English / Russian / Estonian)

AKAVA - Confederation of Unions for Academic Professionals in Finland

Trade union confederation for those with university, professional or other high-level education, formed by 31 affiliates and with about 400 000 members and with 80% unionisation rate. Members work as experts and educators.
Go to AKAVA's site

A list of all unions affiliated with these confederations, plus their contact details, is included in the publication
Guide for Foreigners Working in Finland (English / Russian / Estonian)
See also The ABC of Finnish Trade Unions (a nice guide in English/Estonian/Russian)

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Rights & Responsibilities of Finnish Employees

Employment Contract

A written employment contract is usually signed between employer and employee, and is highly desirous. A good contract should clearly state the details and scope of the job in question, including working hours, salary, benefits, incremental pay rises, pay days etc.

In Finland it is common to negotiate terms and conditions to be included in the contract, but any such terms must never be below the standard of the terms and conditions already set in the collective agreement negotiated by your union.. If you discover you have accepted terms and conditions worse than those in the collective agreement you can claim compensation. Contact your union.

More information: Finnish Employment Contract

Employee Rights

  • salary in accordance with the collective labour agreement or the collective bargaining contract
  • protection, which is provided for in law and in agreements
  • right to belong to a union
  • a healthy and safe working environment


Employee Responsibilities:

  • perform their tasks carefully
  • follow the supervisors’ instructions
  • refuse to take part in activities that are in direct competition with those of the employer
  • keep business and professional secrets confidential
  • observe the benefit of the employer
  • abide by the agreed working hours

*Tip: Find out how many days you can be off sick before your employer requires a doctor’s note.

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Other Sites of Interest
YTK Unemployment Fund: Finland's largest unemployment fund
PAM - Service Union United 2nd largest union in Finland - services sector
OAJ - Trade Union of Education: Representing teachers in all levels of education
Tehy The Union of Health & Social Care Professionals
SuPer: The Finnish Union of Practical Nurses
Ministry of Labour - Legislation: Labour legislation, including downloadable PDF Acts (Employment Contracts Act, Non-Discrimination Act, Act on Mediation in Labour Disputes, and more)
Guide for Foreigners Working in Finland Joint publication by SAK, STTK & AKAVA (PDF) - information about unions & contact information for affiliated unions
Trade Union News Union news from Finland compiled by Finnish journalist Juhani Artto - very comprehensive
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