News archive

10.2.2021Extensive survey reveals: Municipalities are recommendable employers, although coronavirus placed a burden on employees

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.

catering and cleaning, coping at work, coronaviruses, municipal sector, pedagogy and education, questionnaire survey, remote work, social welfare and health care, stress (biological phenomena), technology and transport

21.1.2021SAK and STTK welcome the EU Commission proposal for a minimum wage

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.

collective bargaining, minimum wage, SAK, STTK

13.1.2021Eased rules on layoffs and other employment legislation no longer in effect after turn of year

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.

cooperation negotiations, layoff, private sector, state of emergency

21.12.2020Government proposes compensation for employees for all non-compete clauses

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.

central organisations, clauses, legislation

18.12.2020Follow JHL’s communications in English on the new Facebook page!

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.

immigrants, JHL, multiculturalism, social media, trade union

1.12.2020Eloranta calls for employer responsibility concerning agreements, to avoid new risks and unpredictability

Helsinki (01.12.2020 - Heikki Jokinen) The Finnish forest industry decision to unilaterally terminate national level collective bargaining is clearly a risk for companies in that sector and a leap into unchartered waters, says Jarkko Eloranta, President of the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK.

collective bargaining, SAK

12.11.2020JHL: City of Oulu tries to break the right to strike with gift vouchers

The City of Oulu has distributed gift vouchers as a reward to those employees who did not participate in the strikes in September and October. JHL, the Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors were incensed at this move by the City.

right to strike

4.11.2020Finnish Labour Council: Food couriers are employees, not entrepreneurs

Food couriers are employees, not entrepreneurs, says Finland's Labour Council. It released two statements on the issue in October. Service Union United PAM welcomes the statements.

employees, food couriers, Labour Council, labour policy

3.11.2020Kaveri: You Will Be Paid for Every Minute You Work

Being a member of a trade union guarantees you better unemployment benefits. This was the main reason Kaveri joined the trade union. "For many years I was happy to just remain a silent member of the union. Then I learned about all the other things the union does, like negotiating the collective agreement. Now I am a union activist and shop steward,” Kaveri says.

immigrant background, immigrants, trade union

29.10.2020Carlos: The Union Is Your Champion

Carlos Carrara, 39, has lived in Finland for six years. He has a career in caregiving and is popular with his clients. Carlos is today a card-carrying union activist. He is working in a project to bring more caregivers to the union. Carlos informs caregivers about their rights such as paid vacations and bonus holiday pay.

care assistant, immigrants, trade union

26.10.2020Chiara: In Finland, Everybody Is a Union Member

Chiara Costa-Virtanen, 32, lives in Helsinki, Finland, and works in the public sector. She is also the proud mother of a lovely Finnish-Italian child.

collective agreement, immigrants, work in Finland

5.10.2020Forest industry declares it will no longer take part in collective bargaining

The forest industry announced on 1 October that it will no longer participate in collective bargaining. The decision was prepared secretly and left both unions and the nation flabbergasted. The existing seven collective agreements are valid until they expire either at the beginning or during the year 2022. After that, every company or factory must make their own agreements.

collective bargaining

5.10.2020Unusual kind of collective agreement reached for restaurants and tourism sectors

The new collective agreement for employees and supervisors within tourism, restaurant and leisure services was born under very special circumstances. The agreement was approved on 1 October and covers some 75 000 employees.

collective agreement

5.10.2020New report considers changes to the institution of the National Conciliator

A crucial discussion on the role of the National Conciliator has been ongoing for some time in Finland. Now, the think tank Akava Works has published a comparative report on the machinery for conciliating collective bargaining in several countries.

Akava, national conciliator

17.9.2020Finland had no need for new schemes for short-time work due to the coronavirus pandemic

The Finnish system for temporary lay-offs turned out to be flexible in comparison to many other European systems during the coronavirus pandemic. But financially it is less generous than many others.

coronaviruses

3.9.2020Three major unemployment funds to amalgamate

Three big unemployment funds have undertaken preparations to merge. If things go as planned, the new fund should start operating by the beginning of 2022.

unemployment funds

3.9.2020JHL Awards rewards members for successful member recruitment

JHL has renewed its incentive system for member recruitment. Starting on the 1st of September, the JHL Awards will be more accessible to all members of the union.

JHL, JHL-bonus awards, recruiting of members

3.9.2020Summer Job Helpline was needed even in the summer of pandemic

Some 250 people sought advice from the Summer Job Helpline, run by the three Finnish trade union federations Akava, SAK and STTK.

Summer Job Helpline

26.8.2020Jarkko Eloranta to continue as SAK President

The Delegate Council meeting of the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK unanimously elected Jarkko Eloranta to continue as the President of the federation on August 25.

SAK

21.8.2020Finland looks for new measures to prevent the exploitation of foreign labour

Finland will intensify its battle to prevent the exploitation of foreign labour. A working group from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment published its proposal for new measures in this endeavour on 20 August. This received immediate support from the trade union movement.

exploitation, foreign labour

14.8.2020SAK calls for improvements on earnings-related unemployment security

In June, a debate on earnings-related unemployment security got underway in Finland. Some right-wing politicians and the employers' federation EK proposed closing down the existing unemployment funds and starting up a new state institution to distribute benefits to everyone under uniform rules.

SAK, unemployment benefit

6.8.2020Wolf in sheep’s clothing, say unions of the employer’s lobby EK new policy concerning unemployment funds

The Confederation of Finnish Industries EK suddenly reversed its position on the issue of earnings-related unemployment benefits. Up until now it has supported the existing system whereby the benefits are paid through the unemployment funds. Since the year 1895, these funds have been mainly administered by the trade unions.

unemployment benefit

18.6.2020Personal taxation numbers to be extended to the shipyards

The Finnish Government is planning to extend the obligatory use of personal taxation numbers to those working in the shipyards. On commencement of work, those employed there should have their own personal taxation numbers.

shipyards, taxation, taxation of persons

29.5.2020Local government deal struck, finally

All parties to the local government collective agreement accepted the deal on Thursday 28 May. The long and difficult negotiation marathon has finally reached an outcome with a new agreement in place.

collective agreement negotiations, local and central collective agreements