JHL’s year 2024: protests, MEPs and sparkle of Star Professionals
In 2024 JHL participated in a number of protests against the actions of the Government of Finland. Three JHL members were elected as Members of the European Parliament. The Union Council elected Håkan Ekström as the new President of JHL. The highlight of the year was the spectacular Star Professional Days event in October.
At the start of the year 2024, Finland had had a heavy-handed right-wing government for a little over six months. The Government of Finland pursued social security cuts and negative changes in working life, and from the very start, objection of these changes characterised JHL’s year. The objection was expressed in a number of protests, as well as in other ways. Although little could be done to stop the Government from deteriorating working life, JHL was successful in making people aware of its message and raising discussion in workplaces.
Towards the end of the year, JHL started to prepare for the major efforts of the spring 2025: the county and municipal elections and the collective agreement negotiations.
Three JHL members got MEP seats in Brussels
The European Parliament election in June was one of the greatest successes in the year 2024. There were several JHL members among the candidates, and the union members did very well in the EU election. Three JHL members were elected to the European Parliament: Li Andersson (Left Alliance), Eero Heinäluoma (SDP) and Jussi Saramo (Left Alliance). Also the alternate MEP for the Left Alliance, Gashaw Bibani, is a JHL member.
Andersson got 247,604 votes, which is more than any candidate has ever received before in the EU elections in Finland.
Changes in the leadership trio
The 120 representatives in JHL’s highest executive body, the Union Council, elected Håkan Ekström as the new President of JHL on 8 February. Ekström had been the acting President since the resignation of the previous President Päivi Niemi-Laine in November 2023. Ekström has been in an executive role at JHL since 2016.
The Union Council also elected a new Chielf Executive Officer Mari Keturi, who came to JHL from the position of the Executive Director at the Negotiation Organisation for Public Sector Professionals JUKO. Before JUKO, Keturi had worked at JHL for almost 14 years.
Saila Ruuth continued as the other Chief Executive Officer.
Against the policy of impoverishment
In the spring JHL was involved in a number of protests against the actions of the Government of Finland.
In February and March, 11,600 JHL members participated in political Serious Grounds strikes. The strikes were organised for example in the early childhood education and care, traffic, energy and port sectors and at municipal enterprises.
JHL was one of the organisations in the STOP now! mass demonstration in the Senate Square on 1 February. The mass demonstration was organised jointly by the member unions of SAK and STTK and gathered 13,000 participants.
JHL participated in export sector strikes that began on 11 March. The strikes in ports and rail freight transport stopped export from Finland for two weeks.
The collective agreement negotiations of the private teaching sector led into a strike in a number of private schools and educational institutions on 23 and 24 April.
Several collective agreements were negotiated in the course of the year. For example the Finnish National Gallery, the private health services sector and the private teaching sector and vocational adult education centres got new collective agreements.
The highlight of the year was the Star Professional Days event
The Star Professional Days were the biggest union activity effort of the year 2024. Almost 800 JHL members attended the two-day event in October in Tampere. The Star Professional Days celebrated the importance of the trade union’s members who are amazing professionals and have a major role in securing the continuity of society.
Lectures on occupational topics were an important part of the event, and they were organised together with JHL Institute. In the evening gala, outstanding JHL members were awarded in six Star Professional categories.
The Star Professionals were entertained by Finnish star celebrities from Seela Sella and Kari Ketonen to Sointu and Topi Borg.
JHL Shop became even more sustainable
JHL Shop was revamped in 2024. The reform of the online shop is part of JHL’s broader strategic approach where sustainability gets an even bigger role.
In future, the products of JHL Shop are selected according to the Green Office principles. It means that ethical and ecological principles must be observed in manufacturing of all products.
A record number of visits to educational institutions
JHL was energetic in student and youth activities in 2024 and had a record number of 350 educational institution visits, such as entrance hall events and working life info sessions. 3,278 new student members joined the union, and this was also a new record.
Two national youth and student events were organised in 2024: JHL goes Turku Amazing Race in March and Operaatio Hälytystila in Gustavelund in November. About 80 members from all around Finland participated in both events.
Immigrant activities in spotlight
JHL’s eight regional immigrant network was founded in 2024 under the Oulu area regional office. With this new network, JHL’s immigrant activities cover the whole country.
JHL has systematically boosted recruitment of members with an immigrant background for example by hiring permanent employees for this purpose. In less than two years, the number of JHL members with an immigrant background has grown 42% to 9,020.
JHL received an exceptional amount of positive feedback and attention in the media when it broke away from the Finnish Government’s antiracism campaign in autumn 2024. In JHL’s view, the campaign lacked credibility.
JHL’s collective bargaining and union activities line published in the autumn an equality and non-discrimination guide that was given to all Members of the Finnish Parliament. The guide helps to identify discrimination and tackle it.
Almost 14,000 new members
The number of JHL members dropped a little in 2024, but at the same time the trade union was successful in attracting new members. Member surveys indicate that the members view the trade union’s operations mostly positively. JHL’s visibility in workplaces has improved a little.
13,559 new members joined JHL in 2024.
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 expert, a cleaner, a cook, a secretary, a security guard or a train conductor, and we are your trade union!
The economic situation was challenging
JHL’s economic situation was challenging in 2024. The number of JHL members and the members’ income level developed more slowly than in 2023.
The memberships fees revenue has not covered all costs of the trade union’s operations for some time now, and part of the costs have been paid using investment income.
2024 was a good year in investment markets, but in 2025 uncertainty has increased globally. For example the trade war started by the United States and the developments of the war in Ukraine swing the markets. This uncertainty affects also JHL through its investments. JHL mitigates risks by diversifying its investments and by keeping the risk level of its investments moderate.
The financial statements showed a deficit in 2024, contrary to for example year 2023.
– We have recognised that the membership fees revenue is not sufficient, and the trade union’s divisions are committed to reviewing for their part their operations from the perspective of a tightening budget. We are going to prepare an economic programme to support balancing the operations and finances. The programme will span the whole Union Council term, and it will define what level we pursue and what the schedule is, says JHL’s Director of Finance Anne Karjalainen.