What is a trade union? JHL is the most diverse trade union in Finland
A trade union represents the employees in working life and provides support and security. Besides that JHL also offers training, a professional community and plenty of benefits outside work.
A trade union is an organisation that represents employees in working life. Trade Union JHL represents about 165,000 professionals of public and welfare sectors.
Our most important task is to negotiate collective agreements with employer organisations. We represent you in the collective agreement negotiations. Collective agreements determine for example the pay, working hours and holidays.
We monitor that collective agreements are followed and that employees are treated fairly. We defend and improve working conditions, pay and wellbeing at work 365 days a year, and to do that, we can also resort to strikes and other industrial action if needed.
Why is it important to be in a trade union?
Being in a trade union helps you to improve your own position and secure your rights. If there were no trade unions representing employees, employers could decide alone and dictate the terms and conditions of employment for their employees. Every employee would have to represent themself alone.
When you are a trade union member, you defend your position in working life. The more members JHL has, the more power we have to represent all of you in workplaces and collective agreement negotiations. We are stronger together.
- eight-hour working day
- five-day working week
- summer and winter holidays
- family leaves
- study leave
- overtime pay
- protection against arbitrary dismissal
- earnings-related unemployment security
- consolidating the position of shop stewards.
These and other rights that we take for granted are the result of trade unions’ work. Without trade unions we might have much longer working weeks with no holidays or overtime pay.
What does a trade union do?
A trade union supports and gives advice in situations that concern work or unemployment. When you are a member, you can get free legal aid and earnings-related unemployment security. You can always contact us if you encounter problems in working life or have other questions.
The shop steward and occupational safety and health representative are your closest contacts to your trade union in your workplace.
Moreover, the trade union is also a professional community that offers training, peer support and ways to participate and make a difference.
You can benefit from JHL’s membership in your free time as well. With us you get lower prices on insurance policies, electricity, fuel, working out, audio books, glasses and more. When it’s time for a holiday, you can head for the trade union’s holiday locations or make use of discounts on hotel bookings and cruises.
What is JHL?
Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors JHL is the most diverse trade union and the most affordable trade union for the welfare sectors in Finland. Our 165,000 members work in about one thousand different occupations in six occupational sectors. JHL is affiliated to the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK.
JHL members work for:
- the state, a municipality, a joint municipal authority, a wellbeing services county or a parish
- an enterprise or a company owned by the above
- an association or a non-profit organisation
- a company or a corporation that provides services for the public sector, or in a corresponding line of business.
Our six large occupational sectors are:
- social welfare and health care sector
- catering and cleaning sector
- pedagogy and education sector
- information, administration and library sector
- technical, energy and traffic sector
- security sector.
Our members also include students and entrepreneurs of these sectors.
If you are not sure whether JHL would be your trade union, you can ask that from our Membership Service.
We also advance the rights of employees by influencing decision making in the society. We promote equality, non-discrimination and fairness. We are on the side of public services and the welfare state.
JHL is the most affordable trade union for the welfare sectors
Our membership fee is the most affordable among the welfare sector unions: only 1% of gross income.
Membership fee calculator
If you are working, the JHL membership fee is only one per cent (1%) of your salary. The fee includes comprehensive protection of interests and unemployment security.
You can deduct the trade union membership fee in your taxation
A trade union membership fee is a tax-deductible expense. Thanks to a tax deduction, our affordable membership fee actually costs you even less.
JHL membership is free for students.
It’s smart to join the trade union also if you’re a student. At JHL we have made that extra easy because our student membership is completely free, costing €0. We offer students a professional community and plenty of useful information on their sector. You can network in our events and complement your knowledge and skills in our free courses. Learn more: Youth and students
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!
