Trade unions
Anyone working in Finland can become a trade union member. Trade unions support and help you with any problems you may encounter as an employee.
On this page, you’ll find answers to questions such as:
Trade unions assist workers in all matters related to employment. If something feels unclear or wrong in your workplace, you can always ask the union for advice, even on little things. Read more.
A shop steward or union representative is a person elected by trade union members to help employees in the workplace. They know the laws and the collective agreement, listen to employees’ concerns and can speak to supervisors on behalf of employees, for example. Read more.
You should join the trade union that negotiates the collective agreement in your sector. The right trade union is best able to help you with issues related to your specific job. You can search for a union using an online service or ask for advice at your workplace. Read more.
Why should you join a trade union?
When you’re a member of a trade union, you don’t have to understand everything that the laws and the collective agreement say. If something at your workplace or in your employment relationship feels unclear or wrong, you can always ask your trade union for help. Even the smallest unclear detail can be an important one.
Your workplace shop steward or union representative represents the trade union in your workplace. If there is no shop steward at your work, you can contact the trade union directly for advice.
Read more about the trade unions.
Shop stewards and union representatives
Shop stewards or union representatives:
- are people elected by the members of a trade union that employees can trust
- help employees who are members of a trade union in the workplace
- know the laws and the collective agreement of your industry
- listen and can provide advice on what to do
- speak on your behalf to your boss, for example
- can also help if the problem can’t be solved by discussing the problem with your boss.
Read more about the shop steward and the union representative.
Collective agreements
The trade union has negotiated a collective agreement with the relevant employers’ association. The collective agreement includes the terms for employing workers and for working. The agreements usually apply to a single industry, such as residential construction. Negotiating is often hard work. Your trade union will have more negotiating power if it has a large number of members. By joining a trade union, you make the union stronger. This means that the trade union will be able to negotiate the best possible terms of employment for you.
Read more about collective agreements.
Which trade union is yours?
You should join the trade union that negotiates the collective agreement used specifically for your work or at your workplace. One workplace can have employees belonging to a variety of trade unions.
You can ask your co-workers which trade union they belong to or find your own trade union here.