Cooperation between the central organisation and the trade unions – Finnish case Ari Myllyviita

Decentralized systems only technical cooperation – common network solution with Song Networks – but not all unions joined this network different office solutions – different systems (Tiimi, Outlook/MS Exchange) – different internet solutions (Frontpage, Database-systems, Several different publishing tools)

USE OF INTERNET IN SAK 45% of the members and ca 50% of the shop stewards have access to the internet (autumn 2001) almost all of the member unions have a website actions to raise the use of the internet: training courses for members and shop stewards collective agreement negotiations: employers should provide shop stewards with a mobile phone, computer and an access to the internet SAK computer campaign SAK MTV3 internet connection

SAK’s WEBSITE opened in 1995 major renewal in 2001, modifications in 2002 major target groups: SAK members representatives of media wage-earners not yet members of a trade union young people and students immigrants sister organisations outside Finland 25,000 visitors/month, 220,000 page requests/month

Negative sides costs are higher difficulties to integrate data – data sharing? colsulting and education is problematic everybody has invented ”a bike” again – a lot of wasted time and human resourses

Positive sides all have their own interface – and they can change it when ever they want system is flexible unions are saving money – they combine internet-, mobile- and phone –systems