When you are member of a trade union, you usually belong to one of its local trade unions or staff associations. The local trade union or staff association brings together all members of the same trade union working in the workplace or the company. There are also local trade unions and staff associations that include all members of the same sector or region, in which case employees from several different workplaces may belong to them.
20.11.2021
Anyone working in Finland can become a trade union member. Trade unions support and help you in all problems that you might face as an employee.
You do not need to fully understand the content of the laws and collective agreements. If you feel that something is not right at your workplace or in your employment, you can always ask your trade union for help. Even the smallest unclear detail can be an important one.
The shop steward represents the trade union at your workplace. If there is no shop steward at your work, you can contact the trade union directly for advice.
Shop steward
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 house 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.
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.
If you do not know what your trade union is
Fill in the subscription form on the trade union’s web pages. You can find links to subscription forms at www.liitot.fi.
If you need help, the shop steward at your workplace helps.
Members of a trade union pay ta membership fee to the union. You can pay the membership fees yourself or ask the employer to pay them from your salary, which is called collection by the employer. The membership fee is tax-deductible. The membership fee enables an employee to use the services of the union and its elected officials.
Being a member in a trade union is also a channel to influence matters concretely. If there are many young people in the trade union movement, their voices are better heard in the development of working life.
When you start work, join a trade union. In Finland, the majority of employees belongs to the trade union of their sector. You can also join a trade union already during you study time.
1 The trade union is on your side
It negotiates on your behalf on salaries and other conditions of employment with the employers’ federation. This results in a collective agreement that gives you better conditions of employment than those stipulated by law.
2 Shop stewards advise and help you at the workplace
The shop steward represents the trade union and supervises that the employer complies with the collective agreement. If you have problems with the employer, you can always report it to a shop steward who can investigate the matter with the employer on your behalf.
3 The trade union’s employment counselling will help you if you have problems with the employer
You can call your union and ask for advice. If required, trade union lawyers can help you to resolve any disputes with your employer, even in court.
4 Trade unions enforce the interests of employees when laws are decreed
Thanks to trade unions, in Finland the working week is 5 days; the working day is no more than 8 hours, and employees are entitled to holidays, overtime compensation and holiday payments.
5 The trade union provides training, events and a community
You can find information about the training and events provided by trade unions, for example, on the web pages or social media channels of your trade union.
6 Your unemployment benefit improves if you also join an unemployment fund
When you join a trade union, you can also join the unemployment fund of your sector. If you are unemployed, the unemployment fund can pay you a unemployment daily allowance. It is usually better than the basic daily allowance paid by Kela. If you only belong to an unemployment fund, but not a trade union, you can receive unemployment benefit, but the fund will not help you with any problems at the workplace.
7 You receive benefits and discounts
Members of trade unions may receive discounts in, for example, petrol, insurances or hotel prices. Some trade unions offer, for example, cheap holiday cottages.
