In its extraordinary meeting, JHL’s Union Council reluctantly approved the new social welfare and health care sector collective agreement, known by its Finnish acronym as the SOTE agreement. Disappointed Union Council members spoke in the meeting about working hours and pay. JHL’s Union Council required that the SOTE agreement will only be approved by JHL if all other parties approve it as well.
Helsinki (29.06.2021 - Heikki Jokinen) Akava will cease its involvement in the Labour Institute for Economic Research PT and focus on its own research, done by their think-tank Akava Works.
This year, Helsinki Pride celebrates the milestones of equality in Finland and abroad. JHL is involved in Pride as a member union of SAK.
Member services, Employment Advice and Education Advice are at members’ service by phone throughout the summer. Also the Public and Welfare Sectors’ Unemployment Fund will be open the whole summer.
At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, health care was a bigger priority than elderly care and care workers. Because of this, especially care homes suffered from outbreaks of the coronavirus in Finland. This is what Sari Bäcklund-Kajanmaa, JHL’s special advisor, states in her report for Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.
On June 13, Finland will vote in municipal elections. There are 309 municipalities in all. The latter wield considerable power - and money - to organise things like daycare, schools, traffic, public housing, cultural services, sport facilities and - until the upcoming administrative reform - health care, too.
In the municipal elections this June, you can make an impact on how the schools, libraries and sports sites of your municipality will function in the future. Advance voting starts on 26 May, election day is 13 June. Remember to vote! Only the votes cast will be counted.
The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK and Workers' Educational Association TSL will provide digital training skills to one thousand employees in the next two years. Google.org is supporting the project to the tune of 220,000 euro.
A total of 68 per cent of Finns agree that a strong trade union movement is a vitally important part of Finnish society, according to a survey commissioned by the newspaper Maaseudun Tulevaisuus.
The Summer Job Helpline is once again up and running, which is a sure sign of spring. The helpline is provided jointly by the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), Akava and the Finnish Confederation of Professionals (STTK). If you have summer job questions, you can get advice and answers throughout the summer, from the beginning of May to 30 August.
JHL’s biggest member event, Ammattialafoorumi (occupational sector forum) is only six months away, and already two thirds of places are filled. Secure your place today: Listen to top speakers, celebrate in the evening gala and meet a whole bunch of other star professionals from your sector! See you in Tampere on 29–30 October!
Helsinki (29.04.2021 - Heikki Jokinen) Targeting, harassment or cyberbullying are an unfortunate reality for many people due to their work. The problem is growing, and the unions are working to help victims both in a practical way and through political action.
The employers' association, the Technology Industries of Finland announced on 25 March that it will pull out of the national collective bargaining system. It has established a new association, which will henceforth handle all matters connected to collective bargaining.
One in four employers have unjustifiable sought to restrict employee and shop steward rights to express their views regarding their workplace.
Helsinki (12.03.2021 - Heikki Jokinen) Plans to create a major new unemployment fund are proceeding apace. However, one of the funds originally expected to be part of the merger pulled out but will now be replaced by another fund.
Your trade union JHL negotiates fair terms and conditions of employment for you, and union shop stewards protect your interests in workplaces. These benefits can’t be measured in money, but that’s not the case of other JHL membership benefits!
Taking the coronavirus vaccine protects employees from a dangerous infectious disease. The safety of the vaccine will be ensured carefully before it is released on the Finnish market. JHL’s members should take the vaccines recommended by Finnish health care authorities.
The forest industry giant UPM announced on 8 February that it will no longer participate in negotiations on collective agreements for salaried employees at any level in Finland. This unilateral refusal to engage in collective bargaining is not just based on a whim.
The Finnish multinational forest company UPM announced on 8 February that it will no longer engage in any kind of collective agreements at any level for salaried employees in Finland. All terms of work will be negotiated on an individual basis.
The findings of the Kunta10 survey conducted in autumn 2020 demonstrate that work communities are regarded to be well functioning and municipal employers worthy of recommendation despite the coronavirus. Because of the coronavirus, people in professions where remote work was possible started to work from home. These people had the feeling of having better control over their work.
Two Finnish trade union confederations SAK and STTK view the EU Commission proposal for a minimum wage positively and support its objectives. The federations issued a joint statement on this in December.
The eased rules on layoffs and other employment legislation, used in the private sector because of the coronavirus crisis, have no longer been in effect after the turn of the year. Likewise, several temporary changes made to unemployment security ceased to be in effect at the end of 2020.
Helsinki (17.12.2020 - Heikki Jokinen) The Finnish Government proposes to amend the law to oblige employers to pay compensation to employees for all non-compete clauses in their employment contracts. Trade unions have long drawn attention to the fact that the existing law is unfair and has led to a fast and wildly growing number of such clauses.
On the Facebook page, JHL reports on its activities, advocacy and events in English. The main target groups of the public page are members with an immigrant background, professionals interested in membership, JHL members working around immigration themes and other networks interested in JHL’s English-language communications.