What is a trade union?

When people in the same industry have decided to join the same organisation, i.e. a trade union, the union can negotiate with employers on wages in the industry. In addition, the parties negotiate and agree on many other issues. Trade unions are also called employee organisations.

When union members are from the same industry, from different workplaces and from different parts of Finland, their demands have much more weight and influence compared to what an individual employee could ever achieve.

Trade unions operate based on rules amd statutes. This way it can be ensured that each member has channels of influence in the union. The rules create the organisation’s democracy. In a union, decisions are not made by a single person, but by a group of people.

Trade unions have an impact on workplaces and society at large

Many workplaces in Finland comply with the AKT collective agreement. It is the result of the work of AKT. Many of the collective agreements are generally binding, meaning that they must be followed in all workplaces in the same sector in Finland.

Without AKT, collective agreements and the wages and other benefits determined by them would not be a security for transport workers. Collective agreements determine the minimum that must be paid for work, as well as many other terms and conditions of employment and regulations related to working conditions.

Every employee has the right to be a member of a trade union. This is regulated by Finnish legislation and the agreements of the International Labour Organization ILO.

Joining a union is an easy and effective way to look after your interests and at the same time ensure that your colleagues also have bargaining power and security at work.

Most employers have their own associations. Organising is a good thing for society as a whole, on both sides.