Why should I join a trade union?
The trade union is your ally in the world of work. Unions also help with issues and problems arising in employment.
Five reasons to join a trade union
A trade union will negotiate pay and other working conditions on your behalf. The collective agreement for your sector specifies the minimum pay rates for work. It also settles the rules governing working time, sick pay, overtime pay, shift work bonuses and annual holidays.
The organised employees at a workplace elect a shop steward to negotiate, agree and mediate on matters of employment, and to channel information between the employees and the employer. The shop steward represents the employees if any disagreements arise between the employees and the employer.
When you join a trade union, you can also join an unemployment fund. These funds pay a daily allowance that is proportional to the previous earnings of a member who becomes unemployed.
A trade union provides a wide range of help for the challenges of the world of work, ranging from legal assistance to training courses in languages and information technology. Check your union newspaper and website for further details.
Trade unions also provide many other benefits to their members, including budget-conscious holiday opportunities with subsidies for holidaymaking and member discounts on travel services. Many unions also negotiate member discounts on insurance and other goods and services. Check your union website for details of these member benefits.
Find your own trade union
A trade union can help when you need support in the world of work. The Tradeunion.fi service will help you find a suitable union according to your industry or the name of your workplace. Find your own union and join today!
Why a trade union?
A trade union defends your interests at work. This includes negotiating such matters as pay and working conditions on your behalf. It also lobbies for the interests of employees when new laws are made. You can thank the unions for such rights as paid holidays, overtime compensation and the five-day working week in Finland.
The detailed minimum terms of employment for a sector are specified in a collective agreement negotiated between the union and employer representatives. These guarantee more generous terms and conditions than the legal minimum.
The world is changing and work must evolve to keep pace. The more employees belong to a trade union, the better are its prospects for promoting the rights and interests of those employees and resolving current challenges in the sector.
Unions provide comprehensive help and advice on issues related to your work. Their lawyers provide legal advice as required, and can resolve disputes with your employer through litigation if necessary.
Shop stewards are also specially trained in discharging their duty to support you at the workplace. They ensure that the employer complies with the collective agreement. It is wise to seek their help when employment problems arise at work.
Trade unions provide training to improve competence and vocational skills, and also arrange various events. Members also enjoy various specially negotiated benefits and discounts.
On joining a union, you may also join the unemployment fund for the sector. This fund pays unemployment benefit if you lose your job. Earnings-related benefits paid by a fund are generally more generous than the basic daily allowance paid by Kela.
Get to know the SAK trade unions
The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) is a confederation of 18 trade unions. These unions have a total of more than 800,000 individual members, including childminders, airline cabin crew members, bus and coach drivers, waiters, security guards, construction workers, paper industry process managers, electricians and dancers.
