Know your rights The Finnish Labor Market and Professional and Managerial Staff Tampere Veikka Kuusisto Advisor, Student marketing

Akava n Akava, the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland, is one of the three independent trade union confederations in Finland n Akava’s 35 affiliates have a total membership of 577,000 including approx. 108,000 student members n Akava’s unionisation rate is about 70 per cent. Almost 30 per cent of trade union members in Finland are Akava members. n Akava represents the interests of professionals and managerial staff and others with a high level of education. n Akava oversees its members’ economic, professional and other common interests. 2

Employment relationships in Finland in 2009, % 3 Source: Statistics Finland, Labour Force Statistics 2009

AOVA – Akava’s Student Counsel n AOVA is Finlands largest student organization with a voluntary membership n The number of student members is considerable: Akava's Student Counsel AOVA represents students from both university and polytechnic sectors n Every fifth member of Akava is a student n AOVA is a 30-year old organization working under Akava n represents all Akava’s affiliates with student activities n works as a link between student life and work life n The biggest co-operation partners are The National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL), The Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences - SAMOK and The Union of Finnish Upper Secondary School Students (SLL) Veikka Kuusisto / Akava

Statistical information on Akava members 5

Akava’s affiliates and number of members Veikka Kuusisto / Akava

Population by level of education, 1975– Population aged 15 and older *) No educational qualification beyond compulsory education **) Matriculation examination or lowest level tertiary education qualification ***) Lower or higher degree in tertiary education Source: Statistics Finland, Educational Institutions Veikka Kuusisto / Akava

Veikka Kuusisto / Akava The labour relations system in Finland n Around ¾ of employees belong to a trade union n Labour legislation and other terms of employment are best influenced by unionization n Every fourth employee is a member of Akava KT VTML EK KIT AKAVA STTK SAK WORKERSWORKERS EMPLOYERSEMPLOYERS

Akava’s organisation for negotiations Akava Akava’s Public Sector Negotiation Commission JUKO The Delegation of Professional and Managerial Employees YTN Organisations’ collective agreements Employers and government Office for Government as Employer Commission for Local Authority Employers Church Confederation of Finnish Industries EK and its affiliates Central organisation agreements Tripartite agreements Coordination Collective Agreements (public sector) Entrepreneurs and self-employed persons Parliament, Ministries, Local Authorities Influencing in legislation Employer organisations Collective Agreements Collective Agreements Employees in Technical and Basic Service Professions KTN Commission for Local Authority Employers Collective Agreements (public sector) Veikka Kuusisto / Akava

Why join a trade union? n Union offers: n Career support n Legal advice n Information on your own industry n Professional networks n Training n Guidance in industrial / working relations and Finnish regulations n Information and knowledge on employment n Advice on terms of employment and salaries n Safety and legal help in case of problems or unemployment Veikka Kuusisto / Akava

Veikka Kuusisto / Akava Without trade unions we would not have these… n Four week annual holidays (1971) n Holiday compensation (1972) n Parental leave (1974) n Winter holidays (1977) n Earnings-related unemployment benefit (1984) n Resolutions on women and low-pay ( ) n Job alternation leave (1996) n Paternity leave (2001, improved in 2011) n Flexible working hours (2001) n Restrictions on temporary employment (2003) n Change security (2005)

Good to know n The minimum wage stated in the collective agreement is a minimum – not the maximum. n There is a legal requirement to additional pay for overtime working. You are not obliged to work overtime if you do not want to do so. n Working on public holidays entitles you to special pay. n Entitlement to annual leave on the basis of legislation on annual leave and holiday pay is based on the terms of the collective agreement. n All employees have the right to equal terms of employment Veikka Kuusisto / Akava

Employees also have responsibilities… n To perform their tasks carefully n To follow the supervisors’ instructions n To refuse to take part in activities that are in direct competition with those of the employer n To keep business and professional secrets confidential n To observe the benefit of the employer n To abide by the agreed working hours Veikka Kuusisto / Akava

Taxes and unemployment benefits n Check and store your payslips: salary + benefits (holiday and overtime compensations etc.) n Join an unemployment fund as soon as you start working n Requirements: n Any kind of work for 34 weeks during a minimum of 8 month membership and last 28 months n At least 18 h per week or 80 h per month n No retrospective payments Veikka Kuusisto / Akava

Find out more n Social partners’ guide on Finnish Labor Markets n Working in Finland – an excellent guide by Ministry of Employment and the Economy n Finnish immigration service n Welcome to the world of work n Finding your own union: n Taxation: Veikka Kuusisto / Akava

Liisa Folkersma Jenni Karjalainen / Akava