Trade union confederations and employers’ confederations
Trade unions and employers’ associations are organisations that represent employees and employers.
In the Finnish labour market system, these social partners of the labour market – trade unions and employers’ associations – agree on the terms and conditions of employment. The trade unions belong to three central trade union confederations, and the employers’ associations or organisations belong to four central employers’ confederations. Trade unions and trade union confederations are collectively referred to as the trade union movement.
Finnish trade unions and trade union confederations also have a say in what kinds of labour laws are made in Finland. They work with the Finnish Government and the Parliament, for example.
Trade union confederations, or wage-earners’ confederations
Employees are represented by 3 wage-earners’ confederations, whose members are trade unions from different industries.
Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK)
SAK represents employees in manufacturing, transport, construction, the private service sector, the public sector, culture and sports, such as people working in factories, municipal employees, retail and restaurant workers, cleaners and bus drivers.
Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland (Akava)
Akava represents employees with a university, professional or other higher-level education, such as teachers, engineers, and economists.
STTK
Among other things, STTK represents experts working in factories, day care centres, nursing homes, hospitals and banks.
Employers’ confederations
Employers are represented by 4 confederations whose members are employers’ associations from different industries.
Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK)
EK represents, among others, employers in the private service sector and industrial employers operating in sectors such as cleaning and property management services, manufacturing, and retail.
Local Government and County Employers (KT)
KT represents municipalities and wellbeing services counties as employers. It negotiates on employment terms and conditions, such as salaries, with the trade unions representing municipal employees.
State Employer’s Office (VTML)
VTML represents the state as an employer. It negotiates with trade unions representing state employees on terms of employment, such as salaries.
Commission for Church Employers (KiT)
KiT represents the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and its parishes as employers and negotiates with the trade unions representing church employees.