Don’t get left alone at your workplace – JHL’s negotiation power protects you
The primary mission of Trade Union JHL is to defend and improve your terms and conditions of employment. We negotiate ca. one hundred collective agreements in both public and private sectors, and we are the most diverse and versatile trade union in Finland.
Trade unions exist because an individual employee is often in a weaker negotiating position than the employer. With the power of a trade union at their side, employees can achieve better terms and conditions of employment.
Without collective agreements negotiated by trade unions, we could have longer working weeks, lower pay and no holidays.
JHL negotiates with employers’ associations on ca. 100 collective agreements in public and private sectors. Our members work in about one thousand different occupations in six occupational sectors.
This means that we have an enormous amount of expertise and knowledge on different occupational sectors. We are the most diverse and versatile trade union in Finland.
Collective agreements determine the pays, pay increases, working hours, holidays and other key terms and conditions of employment. They secure all those employees who are covered by the agreement the minimum level that their employer must comply with.
The collective agreements that we negotiate secure employees fair guaranteed terms and conditions, which are often better than the basic level set by law.
We help with problems of working life
A trade union’s core functions also include support and representation of interests at workplaces. We educate and support shop stewards and occupational safety and health representatives. They represent the union right there at your workplace.
Sometimes you may have problems at your workplace that cannot be resolved by discussing the matter with your supervisor or manager. When you are a trade union member, you will not be alone with your issue!
A shop steward advises members for example if they have questions about their collective agreement and monitors that the employer complies with the agreements.
If a disagreement cannot be resolved at the workplace with the help of the shop steward, you can turn to your nearest regional JHL office. Regional offices can ask for help from the specialists who work at our central office.
Employees’ voice needs to be heard in society
Another important part of JHL’s work is social advocacy.
For us, social advocacy means influencing on the one hand on political decision-making and drafting of laws in ministries, and on the other hand on the public opinion and the media.
Improving the working conditions of our members is possible only when we have proper laws and rules of working life.
Therefore, JHL needs to influence there where the content of the laws originates. Furthermore, we must also express our views in the arenas where decisions for municipalities and wellbeing services counties are made. Employees’ voice must be heard in society.
Discretionary legal aid from the union
When needed, your trade union resolves issues by negotiating about them with the employers’ association, or ultimately by taking the matter to court.
Note that you should not apply for legal aid on your own; the local branch or shop steward needs to be involved at this step.
Preparations for applying for legal aid can be started if the employer will not correct their errors even after investigations and negotiations, although it is clear that the employer has acted in breach of laws or agreements.
We always consider carefully whether a case is likely to succeed in court.
No expenses for the member when a conflict at work requires input from a lawyer
If a matter needs to be taken to court, the member does not have to pay any expenses of the legal proceedings.
The expenses for the trade union vary depending on each case and the type of the case. In practice, even the smallest expenses are in the order of 5,000 euros.
If the case is processed first in the district court and then in the court of appeal, the expenses can be ten times higher. The biggest legal expenses for the union have been well over 100,000 euros. In such case, the legal battle has concerned more than one member.
The union has achieved significant victories for its members.
JHL’s legal aid will cover the member’s legal expenses, and there is no deductible that the member needs to pay. The legal aid covers legal fees, court costs, and the costs of taking evidence.
If the member loses the case, the union pays the legal expenses ordered by the court on the member’s behalf.
Trade union membership pays off. You are never left unprotected!
Join JHL!
JHL is the most diverse trade union in Finland. Our members work in about one thousand different occupations in welfare and public services. You can be for example a social welfare or health care professional, a youth worker or an early childhood education and care professional, a cleaner, a cook, a secretary, a security guard or a train conductor, and we are your trade union!
