• WWW.TEKIJÄLEHTI.FI ISSUE NO. 7-8/2024 INDUSTRIAL UNION MEMBER MAGAZINE WE ARE THE UNION Theme: More and more Industrial Union members are of foreign background. Together, we form an even stronger union! Ulkomaalais taustaisen työvoiman teemanumero 8 Welcome to the union 26 Multiculturalism as part of work 40 New foreign labour unit 44 Help from the Hermes app 58 Tillsammans är vi facket 62 Coaching as a counterbalance Tekijä_2024_7-8_kansiarkki.indd 1 Tekijä_2024_7-8_kansiarkki.indd 1 6.8.2024 13.44 6.8.2024 13.44
• News from the union: How to contact us Central Office EMPLOYMENT ADVICE 020 690 447 tyosuhdeneuvonta@teollisuusliitto.fi WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIAL SECURITY ADVICE 020 690 449 tyoymparisto@teollisuusliitto.fi MEMBERSHIP SERVICES 020 690 446 Mon-Fri 8:30 am – 12:00 pm jasenpalvelu@teollisuusliitto.fi www.teollisuusliitto.fi ? eService Employer and Accountant Service 020 774 1190 Mon-Fri 8:30 am – 12:00 pm tyonantajatilitykset@teollisuusliitto.fi THE INDUSTRIAL UNION PO Box 107, FI-00531 Helsinki Telephone 020 774 001 firstname.lastname@teollisuusliitto.fi In the event of unemployment, members of the Industrial Union are insured by: THE UNEMPLOYMENT FUND AVOIN TYÖTTÖMYYSKASSA PO Box 116, FI-00531 Helsinki Telephone service 020 690 455 Online service and contacts www.a-kassa.fi Regional centers at your service UUSIMAA AREA Hakaniemenranta 1, 00530 Helsinki Office Secretary 020 774 1305 SOUTHERN FINLAND AREA Aleksanterinkatu 18 A 3rd floor, 15140 Lahti (Shopping Centre Trio) Office Secretary 020 774 1362 SOUTHWESTERN FINLAND AREA Linnankatu 50, 2nd floor, 20100 Turku Office Secretary 020 774 1323 EASTERN FINLAND AREA Vuorikatu 20, 70100 Kuopio Office Secretary 020 774 1402 INNER FINLAND AREA Åkerlundinkatu 11 C, 33100 Tampere Office Secretary 020 774 1372 OSTROBOTHNIA AREA Vaasanpuistikko 15 B 28, 65100 Vaasa Office Secretary 020 774 1422 NORTHERN FINLAND AREA Mäkelininkatu 31, 4th floor, 90100 Oulu Office Secretary 020 774 1433 www.teollisuusliitto.fi/en/ industrial-union/contacts/ Union and unemployment fund service numbers Mon-Fri 8:30 am 3:00 pm Access to the regional centers by appointment only! Call and ask for more information. Tekijä_2024_7-8_kansiarkki.indd 2 Tekijä_2024_7-8_kansiarkki.indd 2 6.8.2024 13.44 6.8.2024 13.44
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 3 CURRENT WORK UNION IN SWEDISH LEISURE 7–8 / 24 Tekijä complies with the guidelines on good journalistic practice by the Council for Mass Media in Finland. INDUSTRIAL UNION MEMBER MAGAZINE – 14.8.2024 WWW.TEKIJÄLEHTI.FI COWORKERS Textile care workers Vimukthi Madanayaka and Jaan Paavola. The best knowledge of working life is in trade unions. Their role is important now and in the future. NIKO PANKKA Head of Public Affairs, SAK 10 MAIN FEATURE Yaroslav Slíž spent three days at Murikka Institute to participate in the course Rules of working life in English. AT THE WORKPLACE Vinh Cao Thi Anh packs salads at Famifarm in Järvikylä, Joroinen. The multinational work community has formed gradually through referrals. JY RK I LU U KK O N EN M AT IA S H O N KA M A A JY RK I LU U KK O N EN 26 38 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 3 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 3 7.8.2024 14.13 7.8.2024 14.13
• 4 Tekijä 7-8/2024 SECTIONS CO VE R IL LU ST RA TI O N : EM IL IE U G G LA 26 AT THE WORKPLACE Mix of cultures is everyday life at Famifarm 34 WORK ENVIRONMENT Advice for a healthy workplace 36 WORKFORCE Finland needs skilled workers from abroad 38 COWORKERS Textile care workers Vimukthi Madanayaka and Jaan Paavola 40 UNIT Foreign Labour Unit focuses on diversity 42 WHAT MEMBERS SAY What should the union do for foreign labour? 44 HERMES The app that makes life easier 48 ADVOCACY Problems in the workplace? The union helps! 62 OFF WORK Assistant coach Álvaro Corredor Ochoa 65 HISTORY Glance back to 1910 66 PUZZLES Crossword, sudokus, word crosses and quiz 05 EDITORIAL / PÄÄKIRJOITUS Asko-Matti Koskelainen 06 ABOUT THE UNION The Industrial Union is the largest trade union in Finland 08 LEAD STORY Welcome to the union, says president Riku Aalto 10 MAIN FEATURE Learning the rules of working life 18 FACT Foreign labour euro is 83 cents 20 OBSERVER Senior Officer Katja-Pia Jenu 22 IN REVIEW The trade unions fight for a better life 58 ENHET Ny enhet ska utveckla mångfalden i arbetslivet 60 PÅ JOBBET Från Ukraina till fönsterfabrik i Österbotten CURRENT WORK IN SWEDISH UNION LEISURE PA TR IK LI N D ST RÖ M Industrial Union member magazine. The oldest trade union magazine in Finland. Founded in 1893 under the name Gutenberg. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Petteri Raito 040 728 4615 MANAGING EDITOR Asko-Matti Koskelainen 040 502 9550 JOURNALISTS Antti Hyvärinen 040 571 7228 Tiia Kyynäräinen 050 387 4119 REPORTING IN SWEDISH Johannes Waris 040 357 2855 GRAPHIC DESIGNER Emilie Uggla 050 467 6069 EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Emmi Mäkinen 040 560 2560 CONTACT US tekija@teollisuusliitto.fi firstname.lastname @teollisuusliitto.fi ONLINE MAGAZINE www.tekijälehti.fi PRINT EDITION www.lehtiluukku.fi SUBSCRIPTIONS Members: jasenpalvelu@teollisuusliitto.fi 020 690 446 Non-members: emmi.makinen@teollisuusliitto.fi 040 560 2560 SUBSCRIPTION FEE (12 ISSUES) 25 euros to addresses in Finland / International subscription 30 euros PUBLISHED BY Teollisuusliitto ry (Industrial Union) Switchboard +358 20 77 4001 P.O. Box 107, 00531 Helsinki www.teollisuusliitto.fi PRINTED BY PunaMusta, Forssa, Finland Print run 210 000 PREPRESS PunaMusta Oy, Content and Design Services ISSN 2489-5954 ISSN 2489-7345 (verkkolehti) ADVERTISEMENTS MikaMainos Oy info@mikamainos.fi www.mikamainos.fi 050 528 7782 www.tekijalehti.fi/ mediakortti AUDITOITU TUOTE NEUTRAALI CO 2 PunaMu sta Ál varo Corredor Ochoa 53 PROFILE “Don’t be afraid to speak English” 55 WORLD Labour rights under threat 56 IN BRIEF / LYHYET The next issue will be published on September 11. T UO M A S IK O N EN Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 4 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 4 7.8.2024 14.13 7.8.2024 14.13
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 5 CURRENT S uomi on ollut melko yksimuotoinen yhteiskunta. Kansainvälistymisen myötä Suomen työmarkkinat ovat muuttuneet monimuotoisemmiksi. Suomen väestö ikääntyy ja työikäisten määrä vähenee, mikä aiheuttaa ongelmia työmarkkinoille. Ulkomaalaistaustaiset työntekijät ovat avainasemassa tilanteen ratkaisemisessa. Esimerkiksi teollisuudessa, rakennusalalla ja terveydenhuollossa ulkomaalaistaustaiset työntekijät ovat jo nyt elintärkeitä. Työpaikkojen monimuotoisuus on taloudellinen välttämättömyys ja se edistää kilpailukykyä. Erilaiset taustat ja näkökulmat kehittävät työyhteisöjä ja tuovat mukanaan ideoita, tehokkuutta ja luovuutta. On tärkeää, että kaikki työntekijät syntyperästä riippumatta kokevat olevansa osa työyhteisöä ja tulevansa kohdelluksi oikeudenmukaisesti. Ennakkoluulojen kitkeminen on meidän kaikkien vastuulla. Teollisuusliiton tehtävänä on varmistaa, että jokainen liiton jäsen saa tasavertaisen kohtelun ja että heidän oikeuksiaan kunnioitetaan. Suomi tarvitsee maahanmuuttoa. Sen toimiva toteutus edellyttää panostuksia kielikoulutukseen, kulttuurien ymmärrykseen ja yhdenvertaiseen työelämään. Yhdessä voimme luoda yhteiskunnan, jossa monimuotoisuus nähdään voimavarana ja jokainen työntekijä voi kokea olevansa arvostettu osa yhteisöä. ? F inland has traditionally been a fairly homogeneous society. However, as a result of internationalisation, the Finnish labour market is becoming increasingly diverse. Finland’s ageing population and the decline in the number of working-age people are causing problems for the labour market. Workers of foreign background play a key role in overcoming these challenges. In sectors such as manufacturing, construction and health care, employees of foreign background are already a crucial part of the workforce. Diversity at workplaces is an economic necessity and improves competitiveness. Different backgrounds and perspectives help develop work communities and lead to fresh ideas and greater efficiency and creativity. It is important that all employees feel part of the work community and that they are treated equally and fairly, regardless of background. We all have a responsibility to help rid the world of prejudice. The task of the Industrial Union is to ensure that all union members are treated equally and that their rights are respected. Finland needs immigrants. Successful immigration requires investments in language training, cultural awareness and equality in the labour market. Together, we can create a society where diversity is seen as a strength and where each employee can feel that they are a valued part of the community. ? Tämä Tekijä -lehden ulkomaalaistaustaisen työvoiman teemanumero julkaistaan painetussa muodossa poikkeuksellisesti pääosin englanniksi. Tekijän verkkolehdessä lähes kaikki lehden jutut ovat luettavissa suomeksi, ja osa jutuista julkaistaan verkossa myös ruotsiksi, viroksi, venäjäksi, ukrainaksi, puolaksi, romaniaksi ja vietnamiksi. Lue ja jaa! ASKO-MATTI KOSKELAINEN Toimitussihteeri / Managing Editor Pääkirjoitus Editorial Jokaista tarvitaan – everyone is needed The print version of this themed issue of the Tekijä magazine on workers of foreign background is exceptionally published mostly in English. Nearly all of the articles can be read in Finnish in the digital version of Tekijä, and some of the articles are also available online in Swedish, Estonian, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Romanian and Vietnamese. Read and share! + READ THE ARTICLE IN NINE LANGUAGES www.tekijalehti.fi/ in-english Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 5 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 5 7.8.2024 14.13 7.8.2024 14.13
• 6 Tekijä 7-8/2024 ABOUT THE INDUSTRIAL UNION Venäjä RU Englanti EN Viro EE About the Industrial Union The Industrial Union (Teollisuusliitto) is the largest trade union in Finland. It has about 200,000 members in dozens of sectors. All employees can join the Industrial Union, regardless of the sector in which they work in, nationality or length of the employment relationship. The aim of the Industrial Union is to promote the rights and well-being of employees. Collective agreements negotiated by the union define the basis for wages, minimum wage and other terms to be observed in employment relationships. The right to enter into collective agreements is based on the law. The bargaining power of the union is based on the unionisation rate, in other words the share of employees in each sector who are members of the union. The trade union is a movement for its members. Members of the Industrial Union have the opportunity to participate in union’s activities to develop terms of employment and improve the working life. Our members matter! ??? ????? Teollisuusliitto? Teollisuusliitto (?????????????? ????????) ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????. ?? ??????????? ????? 200 000 ??????, ?????????? ? ???????? ????????? ????????. ???????? ? Teollisuusliitto ????? ??? ?????????, ??????? ? ????????, ???????? ? ???????? — ?????????? ?? ??????????? ??? ????????????????? ??????. ???? Teollisuusliitto — ??????????? ???? ?????????? ? ?? ???????????? ? ???????? ?????. ???????????? ????????, ??????????? ??????????, ?????????? ???????? ?????? ?????, ??????????? ??????? ?????????? ????? ? ?????? ???????, ??????? ?????? ??????????? ? ???????? ??????????. ????? ?? ?????????? ???????????? ????????? ???????? ?? ??????. ???????????? ???? ????????? ??????? ?? ????, ?????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ??????? ? ?????????. ???????? ??? ???????? ??????????? ??? ??????. ????? Teollisuusliitto ????? ??????????? ??????????? ? ???????????? ?????? ????????? — ???????? ??????? ????? ? ????????? ???????? ?????. ????? ?????????? ?????! Mis on ametiühing Teollisuusliitto? Teollisuusliitto (Tööstusliit) on Soome suurim ametiühing. Sellel on umbes 200 000 liiget, kes töötavad kümnetes erinevates valdkondades. Tööstusliidu liikmeks võivad astuda kõik Tööstusliidu lepinguliste valdkondade töötajad, olenemata kodakondsusest või töösuhte kestusest. Tööstusliidu eesmärk on edendada töötajate õigusi ja heaolu tööelus. Ametiühingu läbiräägitavates kollektiivlepingutes on määratletud palgakriteeriumid, makstav miinimumpalk ja muud tingimused, mida tuleb töösuhtes järgida. Kollektiivlepingute sõlmimise õigus põhineb seadusel. Ametiühingu läbirääkimisjõud põhineb ametiühingu sektorite töötajate osakaalul, kes on ametiühingu liikmed. Ametiühing on oma liikmete liikumine. Tööstusliidu liikmetel on võimalus osaleda ametiühingu tegevuses – arendaga töötingimusi ja parandada tööelu. Iga liikme hääl on oluline! www.teollisuusliitto.fi in nine languages! Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 6 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 6 7.8.2024 14.13 7.8.2024 14.13
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 7 Vietnam VN Ukraina UA Puola PL Romania RO Czym jest Teollisuusliitto? Teollisuusliitto (Federacja Przemys?u) jest najwi?kszym zwi?zkiem zawodowym w Finlandii. Nale?y do niego oko?o 200 000 cz?onków pracuj?cych w dziesi?tkach rozmaitych bran?. Wszyscy pracownicy w sektorach obj?tych umow? zbiorow? Teollisuusliitto mog? zosta? cz?onkami, niezale?nie od narodowo?ci i sta?u pracy. Teollisuusliitto ma na celu dbanie o prawa pracownicze i dobrostan pracowników w ?yciu zawodowym. Uk?ady zbiorowe (najcz??ciej w j?zyku fi?skim nazywane skrótem TES) wynegocjowane przez zwi?zek zawodowy okre?laj? kryteria p?acowe, minimalny poziom p?acy oraz inne warunki, których nale?y przestrzega? w stosunku pracy. Prawo do zawierania uk?adów zbiorowych wynika z przepisów prawa. Pozycja negocjacyjna zwi?zku zawodowego opiera si? na proporcji pracowników w bran?ach przypisanych zwi?zkowi, którzy s? cz?onkami zwi?zku. Zwi?zek zawodowy to w?asny ruch jego cz?onków. Cz?onkowie Teollisuusliitto maj? mo?liwo?? uczestniczenia w jego dzia?aniach – w celu poprawy warunków pracy i ?ycia zawodowego. G?os cz?onków si? liczy! Teollisuusliitto (Liên ?oàn Công nghi?p) là nghi?p ?oàn l?n nh?t c?a Ph?n Lan. Nó có kho?ng 200 000 thành viên làm vi?c trong hàng ch?c l?nh v?c. T?t c? nh?ng ng??i lao ??ng c?a các ngành ngh? thu?c v? Teollisuusliitto ??u có th? gia nh?p làm thành viên c?a Teollisuusliitto mà không ph? thu?c vào qu?c t?ch hay th?i l??ng c?a m?i quan h? lao ??ng. M?c tiêu c?a Teollisuusliitto là nh?m thúc ??y các quy?n và phúc l?i c?a ng??i lao ??ng trong cu?c s?ng làm vi?c. Các th?a ??c v? ?i?u ki?n lao ??ng do nghi?p ?oàn ?àm phán s? quy?t ??nh các tiêu chí tr? l??ng, m?c l??ng t?i thi?u ph?i tr?, c?ng nh? các ?i?u ki?n khác ph?i ???c tuân th? trong m?i quan h? lao ??ng. Quy?n ký k?t th?a ??c v? các ?i?u ki?n lao ??ng là d?a trên pháp lu?t. Kh? n?ng th??ng l??ng c?a công ?oàn d?a trên s? l??ng ng??i lao ??ng trong các l?nh v?c c?a công ?oàn ?ang là thành viên c?a công ?oàn. Nghi?p ?oàn là t? ch?c riêng c?a các thành viên c?a nó. Các thành viên c?a Liên ?oàn Công nghi?p có c? h?i tham gia vào ho?t ??ng c?a liên ?oàn – ?? xu?t các ?i?u ki?n lao ??ng và c?i thi?n ??i s?ng làm vi?c. Các thành viên là r?t quan tr?ng! Teollisuusliitto (?????????? ??????) — ?? ????????? ?????????? ?????????. ???? ??????? ??????? 200 000 ?????? ? ???????? ?????? ???????. ??? ??????????, ??? ???????? ? ???????, ?? ??? ??????????? ?????????? ???????? Teollisuusliitto, ?????? ??????????? ?? Teollisuusliitto, ????????? ??? ?????????????? ??? ?????????? ???????? ????????. ????? Teollisuusliitto ? ?????? ???? ? ????????? ???????????. ?????????? ????????, ????????? ???????????, ?????????? ?????? ??? ?????????? ?????, ??????????? ?????????? ????? ? ????? ???? ? ????????, ???? ???? ????????????? ? ???????? ??????????. ????? ?? ????????? ??????????? ????????? ??????????? ?? ??????. ??????????? ??????? ?????????? ??????????? ?? ??????????? ??????????, ????? ?????? ??????????? ? ?????? ??????, ??? ? ??????? ??????????. ?????????? — ?? ??? ??? ?? ??????. ????? Teollisuusliitto ????? ?????????? ????? ?????? ? ?????????? ?????????? ? ????? ???????? ???? ????? ? ?????????? ????????? ?????. ????? ??????? ????? ?????????? ??? ????????! CURRENT ?? ???? Teollisuusliitto? Ce este Teollisuusliitto? Liên ?oàn Công nghiêp là gì? Teollisuusliitto (Sindicatul Industrial) reprezint? cea mai mare uniune sindical? din Finlanda. Acesta are aproximativ 200.000 de membri care lucreaz? în zeci de domenii diferite. Angaja?ii tuturor domeniilor contractuale ale sindicatului pot deveni membri ai Teollisuusliitto (Sindicatului Industrial), indiferent de cet??enie sau durata rela?iei de munc?. Teollisuusliitto î?i propune s? promoveze drepturile lucr?torilor ?i bun?starea în via?a profesional?. Contractele colective negociate de sindicat definesc criteriile de remunerare, nivelul minim al remunera?iei achitabile, precum ?i celelalte condi?ii respectate în cadrul rela?iei de munc?. Dreptul de a încheia contracte colective de munc? se bazeaz? pe lege. Puterea de negociere a sindicatului se bazeaz? pe propor?ia angaja?ilor din domeniile de activitate ale sindicatului care sunt membri ai sindicatului. Uniunea sindical? este mi?carea proprie a membrilor acesteia. Membrii Teollisuusliitto au posibilitatea de a participa la activitatea uniunii în vederea dezvolt?rii condi?iilor de munc? ?i a îmbun?t??irii vie?ii profesionale. Membrii sunt importan?i! Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 7 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 7 7.8.2024 14.13 7.8.2024 14.13
• 8 Tekijä 7-8/2024 “The welfare society needs workers ” F inland is ageing, and the share of working-age population decreases year by year. Immigration is needed to prevent Finnish society from stagnating. “The Finnish welfare society needs workers,” says Riku Aalto, President of the Industrial Union. The Union Congress of the Industrial Union in spring 2023 outlined that special attention must be paid to work-based immigration and the terms of employment of foreign workers during the strategy period 2023–2028. “Many employees may come from countries that do not have the same kind of labour market system as in Finland. We want to make sure that new immigrants have knowledge of Finnish terms of employment,” says Aalto. The Industrial Union has set up a new unit focusing on issues related to workers from foreign backgrounds. Issues that affect foreign workers are taken into consideration in all of the union’s activities. “The issue also touches on the activities of union representatives and local branches.” It is outlined in the strategy that the union will offer more of its services in different languages. In May, the language selection grew to nine on the Industrial Union’s website and in the Hermes app, where employees and employers can find up-to-date information about working and living in Finland. DECENT TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR ALL The goal of the Industrial Union is that all workers are treated well, regardless of background. “We try to ensure that people who come to Finland to work can do so safely, are treated fairly and receive the pay they are entitled to,” Aalto says. Workers coming to Finland present an opportunity to increase the membership of the union and in this way, its collective power. Membership is also a way to make a difference. “The community is always stronger than individuals. I hope that as many people as possible will join the union. It gives people the opportunity to influence their terms of employment and the kinds of services the union offers its members.” As the share of workers of foreign background increases in workplaces, it is natural that the change is also reflected in organisations with elected representatives. “We currently have union representatives of foreign background who bring in valuable perspectives.” It is outlined in the union’s strategy that it needs to reach out to workers of foreign background in workplaces and ensure that they can easily participate in the union’s activities. CONTRADICTIONS IN THE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME Even as the need for labour immigration is recognised, the actions of Finland’s current Labour immigration is a key part of the strategy guiding the Industrial Union’s work. Union President Riku Aalto says that the union opposes discrimination and hopes that as many immigrants as possible join a trade union. TEXT AND PHOTO ANTTI HYVÄRINEN LEAD STORY Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 8 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 8 7.8.2024 14.13 7.8.2024 14.13
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 9 Aalto says that while the majority of companies behave ethically and follow the law and collective agreements, the problem is caused by some companies that infringe on workers’ rights without scruples. Today, especially in large projects, contracting chains are so long that even companies that do business ethically have trouble keeping track of the overall picture. “By the fourth or fifth rung of the ladder, the client has little idea of what is really going on.” IMPACT ON SOCIETY AS A WHOLE If the government's plans are implemented and more resources are not allocated to supervisory authorities, unprincipled companies stand to gain a competitive edge in profits compared to principled companies. “In many ways, social harmony has eroded in Finland in the past few years. Large differences in issues related to wages or the treatment of people can lead to social tension.” The question is about the terms of employment of all workers. If unscrupulous businesses win contracts by trampling on the rights of workers of foreign background, all workers will be affected. “If the government’s plans are implemented, they will lead to a long-term weakening of terms of employment,” Aalto says. ? The community is always stronger than individuals. I hope that as many people as possible will join the union. government seem to be headed in another direction. The government programme contains many plans that would make immigration harder. Also on the agenda of the right-wing government is expanding local bargaining at company level, which seems to open up possibilities for the exploitation of foreign workers. “In this respect, the government programme contradicts itself,” Aalto says. The threat is that labour markets become divided, with significant disparity in terms of employment and pay. “We already have at least three labour markets.” The first of these is governed by laws and collective agreements. In the second, laws and terms of employment are interpreted against employees’ interests while in the third, workers are exploited outright. President Riku Aalto welcomes workers of foreign background as members of the Industrial Union. + LUE JUTTU SUOMEKSI www.tekijalehti.fi/ajassa READ THE ARTICLE IN NINE LANGUAGES www.tekijalehti.fi/ in-english CURRENT Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 9 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 9 7.8.2024 14.13 7.8.2024 14.13
• 10 Tekijä 7-8/2024 MAIN FEATURE In the Industrial Union’s courses, workers of foreign background learn about Finnish working life and their rights. Four people who have moved to Finland share their story. TEXT MEERI YLÄ-TUUHONEN PHOTOS JYRKI LUUKKONEN Micheala Bailey (left), Jaroslav Slíž, Lev Bahtin and Miranda Kihlström spent three days at Murikka Institute in May to participate in the course Rules of working life in English. + LUE JUTTU SUOMEKSI www.tekijalehti.fi/ajassa READ THE ARTICLE IN NINE LANGUAGES www.tekijalehti.fi/ in-english Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 10 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 10 7.8.2024 14.13 7.8.2024 14.13
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 11 >> “Without information, you’re lost ” CURRENT Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 11 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 11 7.8.2024 14.14 7.8.2024 14.14
• 12 Tekijä 7-8/2024 Course instructor Riikka Vasama tells the class that they can always contact the union if they encounter problems in the workplace. Vasama in a conversation with Georgi Liiva. >> MAIN FEATURE I n the Latomo conference room at Murikka Institute, a group of Industrial Union members of foreign background listen to a lecture on the rules of working life in English. “If you experience problems in the workplace, you can use what you’ve learned here to find out if the solution is found in the employment contract, collective agreement or the law,” says course instructor Riikka Vasama. One of the members attending the course is Yaroslav Slí ž from Slovakia. He came to Finland two years ago with the intention to fulfil his dreams. “My biggest dream is to own a house by the lake. Finland was the best choice for me because there are so many lakes here. Our lakes in Slovakia are small.” Slíž values natural peace and space and doesn’t want to live close to neighbours. That’s why he’d like the lake to be large. He and his girlfriend dream of starting a family. “I’ve travelled a lot in Europe but haven’t been to the Nordic countries before. I’ve always wanted to settle in Finland, Sweden or Norway precisely because of their natural beauty.” Ultimately, Slíž chose Finland because his friend already lived here and recommended the country. Slíž decided to try life in Finland and moved to Rauma to work as a CNC machinist. “Finding a job was very easy for me. My friend told about me to his manager, after which I was contacted by the temping agency Barona.” Matters were made easier by the fact that Slíž is a skilled professional. He had worked in Slovakia as a CNC machinist for almost ten years before moving to Finland. In May, Slíž changed jobs and is now a CNC machinist at Purso-Tools in Pori. “I mostly work on camshafts for the diesel engines of large ships,” he says. MOTIVATED BY A THIRST FOR INFORMATION Jaroslav Slíž found his way into the course on the rules of working life after learning from an email newsletter that the Industrial Union is hosting courses in English. “I already attended the You have rights course back in April in Uusikaupunki. This is my second course, and I plan to take more courses in English in the autumn as well.” Slíž enrolled in the union's courses because he had a strong thirst for information. “Knowledge is one of the most important things in this world. Without information, you’re lost. I would like to see the union also Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 12 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 12 7.8.2024 14.14 7.8.2024 14.14
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 13 >> If I’m unsure about something, I can call the union for advice. MIRANDA KIHLSTRÖM offer courses in English on specific collective agreements,” he says. In Slovakia, Slíž never belonged to a union. This is not uncommon in the country, as only 17% of employees in Slovakia belong to a trade union. In Finland, the unionisation rate of employees is 74%. Slíž first heard of the Industrial Union at the TE Office some eighteen months ago when he was laid off for the first time. “I was told that if I am not a member of a union and want to receive at least some compensation during the layoff, I would need to apply for unemployment benefits from Kela”, Slíž recounts. Slíž has enjoyed his time at Murikka Institute. At the end of the second day of the course, he headed for a walk and then to the sauna. “This is like my dream: a house in the forest by the lake. The house is just slightly bigger.” Slíž’s dream of starting a family is about to come true. He says that he got engaged with his Finnish girlfriend the week before the course. DRAWN TO FINLAND BY SON’S WISH Newspaper deliverer Miranda Kihlström, who moved to Finland from the UK, heard about the Rules of working life course from a coworker. “They’d had been in one of the previous courses and said it was really good. I’m now very much looking forward to future courses in English.” For Kihlström, the course served as a way of getting acquainted with Finnish working life. Among other things, she learned why the holiday season in Finland falls on the summer months. “The course instructor told us that Finns like to spend their holidays in the summer. I, on the other hand, prefer to take my vacation in the winter and travel someplace sunny and warm.” For the first time in her life, Kihlström belongs to a trade union. She decided to join the Industrial Union after learning about the security provided by membership. “What especially caught my interest is that if I’m uncertain about something, I can call the union and ask for advice as because of my background, I’m not always familiar with how things work in Finland.” Kihlström also believes that being a member will help her integrate into Finnish society. Kihlström is a single parent of a 16-year-old boy. The two moved to Finland at the son’s wish. Kihlström’s son is half Finnish and wanted to come to study in Finland to get to know his roots better. “He grew up in the UK and knows the British side of his family. He’s only visited Finland on vacation and wanted to stay here for longer this time. He also plays ice hockey, so Finland is the perfect country for him.” The mother and son are now both learning Finnish. Kihlström has ran into a few obstacles in trying to learn the language. To her frustration, Finns seem to want to converse in English with her instead of Finnish. “I don’t really have a chance to practice Finnish at work either because I work alone.” “FINDING A JOB HAS BEEN HARD” Kihlström moved to Tampere last November and began work as a newspaper deliverer at Posti in December. In her experience, finding a job in Finland was very difficult. “My previous work experience isn’t very useful because I don’t speak Finnish and I don’t have a degree. Jobs for English speakers are mostly in the IT and technical sectors,” says Kihlström. She spent more than 20 years in the travel industry before switching to the wellness industry and later starting her own business. However, she had to give up the business when her father became ill and passed away. Kihlström began looking for jobs in Finland already before moving to the country. “I joined Facebook groups that helped people from the UK make the move to Finland. That’s where I met Micheala, who told me about the job opportunity at Posti.” According to Kihlström, working in newspaper delivery is not ideal for her as it doesn’t allow her to use her skillset. She also doesn’t get to work as part of a team, which she enjoys. “The work also has many positives. At night, it’s calm and quiet. The work itself isn’t stressful, and I get to enjoy beautiful nature. Posti is a large company, which opens up opportunities.” In addition to working, Kihlström volunteers at Bloom ry, a non-profit based in Tampere where foreigners and locals can meet. CURRENT Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 13 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 13 7.8.2024 14.14 7.8.2024 14.14
• 14 Tekijä 7-8/2024 “Now I know how my union dues are used and how the union supports me, so I’m very pleased with the course. I get great value for my money,” says newspaper deliverer Miranda Kihlström. >> MAIN FEATURE CULTURES CLASH AT WORK The majority of participants in the Rules of working life course work in industrial sectors, including Lev Bahtin, a Russian-speaking Estonian who came to Finland for work at the request of a friend. “My friend was a plant operations manager here and needed workers he could trust. He was offering manual work with good pay.” Bahtin joined the Kotka-based Eagle Filters, a manufacturer of industrial filters, in September 2021. At first, he felt that his coworkers were slow and lazy, as he was used to working at a different pace in Estonia. “Finns don’t live to work, but work to live. They don’t come home from work physically and mentally drained. That was the first thing I had to learn and understand.” Bahtin also encountered other cultural differences in the workplace. “I admire strong and independent Finnish women, but if I see a 60-kg woman pushing a load that weighs 12 to 15 kg, I will of course go and help”, says Bahtin. However, many of his coworkers refused the help. They felt that I thought they were weak or that I wanted to show off to appear strong,” says Bahtin. “I explained that if I can do something for them that is easy for me, I’d be happy to do it. We all have our strengths and should use them.” After a few months, Bahtin's coworkers no longer refused his help and some even asked for it. “Although Finns can be cool as ice, it doesn’t take much to break the ice when you get to know them better,” says Bahtin. AN UNPLEASANT NIGHT SHIFT SURPRISE After he’d been in Finland for six months, the friend who encouraged Lev Bahtin to move changed jobs and returned to Estonia. Bahtin stayed behind in Kotka. “We got a new operations manager, and after a year, I asked him for a raise. He said twice that he’d get around to talk to me about it, but then forgot the whole thing.” Another year went by until one Saturday night shift in April, Bahtin was told out of the blue that he was being let go. “Can you imagine? I’d worked two morning and two evening shifts and when I came in for the night shift, I was told I was dismissed. The boss said that the company was in financial difficulties and that I was too expensive of an employee. I was of course shocked,” Bahtin recounts. A silver lining was that Bahtin had joined the Industrial Union the previous autumn. Thanks Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 14 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 14 7.8.2024 14.14 7.8.2024 14.14
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 15 CURRENT >> Roman Filippov (left), Michal Kulka-Kowalczyk and Yaroslav Slíž working on a group task. In the task, they had to find errors in the filled out employment contract. >> to this, he met the requirements for receiving earnings-related unemployment allowance. “My Finnish coworkers would say that joining a union was a waste of money, but my Estonian friend Georgi told me that there were benefits to being a member of a union.” When Bahtin heard about earnings-related unemployment allowance and courses offered by the union, he decided to put in his application. Bahtin has found the Rules of working life course useful. “If I’d taken the course six weeks ago, I would never have signed anything until I had spoken to a shop steward.” As things stand, when he was dismissed, Bahtin ended up signing an agreement that exempts the employer from the obligation to re-hire him. “I tell everyone that if someone brings you papers to sign on a Saturday night, don’t do it. You have time to wait until Monday and ask for advice.” BREXIT LED TO THE DECISION TO MOVE Micheala Bailey, who works in newspaper delivery at Posti, raises her hand to ask a question in the Latomo classroom at Murikka Institute. “How do I know if an employer is organised? That could be useful to know when looking for a new job,” she asks. Bailey and her Finnish husband moved from their home in Scotland to Finland just over four years ago because Bailey’s husband was homesick. “He’s very close with his family whereas I don’t have much family in the UK, so we decided to move to Finland. Our decision was also affected by Brexit,” Bailey says. “Before, we could travel between Finland and the UK as much as we wanted and we both had the right to live in either country. After Brexit, we had to make the choice to settle in one of either country.” CURRENT Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 15 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 15 7.8.2024 14.14 7.8.2024 14.14
• 16 Tekijä 7-8/2024 MAIN FEATURE Settling into Finland has been a challenge for Bailey. In particular, she misses her old job. Bailey is a social worker by training. Back in Scotland, she worked in children’s homes. “I loved my job. I enjoy working with young people and had a lot of freedom in my work. I could do all sorts of fun things with the kids.” Bailey recalls how she used to take young people interested in sports to basketball and football matches or go on vacation in Spain with the youngsters. “I have some really positive memories. I had a great time and even got paid for it. In Scotland, I always worked with other people around me. Now, I’m working a job where I’m always alone.” In her current job, she travels around Pirkanmaa by car, scooter or bike. “I cover delivery routes all over Pirkanmaa when others call in sick, for example. I might be working in Sastamala one day and in Ylöjärvi or Tampere the next,” Bailey says. “YOU CAN’T BE PICKY” “Finding a job in Finland is not very difficult, but you can’t be picky,” Bailey says. She came to Finland in April 2020 and started work at Posti in September. “It was important to me to find a job so that I have some work history in Finland and a refe-rence showing I’m a good and reliable employee. Bailey was already a member of a union in her home country. “Social workers have a big and strong union in the UK,” she says. Bailey became a member of the Industrial Union after a few twists and turns. “I first joined the wrong trade union because I didn’t know that newspaper deliverers belong to a different union than postal workers.” Bailey became aware of the matter last year when she did not receive a one-time pay raise in accordance with the collective agreement negotiated by the Post and Logistics Union PAU. In April, Bailey participated in the Englishlanguage course We the Union on the trade union movement. Bailey learned about the Rules of working life course from her chief shop steward. “Even though I’ve been working in Finland for nearly four years, there are still a lot of things I don’t understand. I thought the course could be a way to get answers to my questions.” Bailey now knows how annual holidays are determined in Finland, for example. She says she has learnt more about her rights and feels empowered by the information. “I can now notice inconsistencies in my current job and know what to do. If I change jobs, I know what I need to pay attention to in the employment contract.” ? In her newspaper delivery job, Micheala Bailey enjoys being able to travel all over the region. “I like summers the most as it stays light out late into the night,” she says. While living in Estonia, Lev Bahtin had never heard of trade unions. He lived in the UK, Sweden, Germany and Sierra Leone before moving to Finland. Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 16 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 16 7.8.2024 14.14 7.8.2024 14.14
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 17 New courses for foreigners A total of twelve Industrial Union members of foreign background from all over Finland attended the course Rules of working life taught in English. The three-day course was organised at Murikka Institute in Teisko, Tampere in late May. “The course starts from the basics. We go over labour legislation, the importance of collective agreements on the terms of employment and the employee's role as a party to the employment contract,” says Riikka Vasama, course instructor. She works in the Industrial Union as the Head of the Foreign Labour Unit. “In the course, participants get answers to questions that are often related to working hours, pay, probationary period, annual holidays and working time reduction days, called pekkaspäivät ,” Vasama lists. “Participants are active, ask a lot of questions and share their own experiences. It amazes me every time how great the group works together despite being so diverse.” Vasama says that there is a real need for English-language courses as many of the participants say they would have done things differently if they’d had more information about Finnish working life. “The courses have a positive impact on integration and empowerment. The participants are no longer punching bags in the workplace, but employees who take action and know their rights.” After the Rules of working life course, union members can now participate in more training in English. The advanced course Union News will be organised for the first time this year, says Vasama. “The course goes over different themes in more depth and can be taken after completing the basic course.” The Union News course will be organised in Murikka in late September and early October. In October, the first Basic course for shop stewards will be held in English. In addition, the Industrial Union is hosting the weekend-long course Welcome to Industrial Union in Nuuksio, Espoo. Regional and sector-specific courses in English are also upcoming. “A special new feature is the course in Ukrainian on the terms of employment in the agriculture and horticulture sectors, which is the first of its kind.” The Industrial Union’s courses are free of charge to members, and the union also reimburses members’ travel expenses. For more information about the courses, see the Tekijä magazine and the Industrial Union's study guide. The union also sends out newsletters by email about Englishlanguage courses to all members whose language is reported as other than Finnish or Swedish. “The courses offer new information and a chance to unwind. They are also a great opportunity to get to know other union members,” Vasama says. “I would like you to be open and honest so that we can help you with any problems you may have,” says Riikka Vasama, instructor of the Rules of working life in English course to the class. CURRENT Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 17 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 17 7.8.2024 14.14 7.8.2024 14.14
• 18 Tekijä 7-8/2024 A part of the Industrial Union’s members speak a language other than Finnish or Swedish. The largest employer in this group is the metal industry, while the agriculture and horticulture industries have the highest number of non-Finnish and non-Swedish members relative to the total number employed by these sectors. Of the collective agreement sectors represented by the Industrial Union, agriculture and forestry industries are considered low-wage industries with mostly seasonal work. Other industries with low wages include newspaper delivery and textile care, where most employees work part-time. The monthly earnings of foreign-language members are clearly lower than those of Finnish and Swedish speaking members. Statistics show that the average earnings of foreign-language members are lower in all agreement sectors. According to the Industrial Union’s Research Unit, the median monthly salary for foreign-language members is around 2,800 euros. This is about 570 euros less per month than what Finnish and Swedish speaking members receive. Based on these figures, the euro of foreign-language members is just 83 cents on average. According to a report by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (2024), the employment rate of immigrants has increased and is approaching the level of those with a Finnish background, but their earnings are lagging behind. The average earnings of persons who have lived in Finland for at least ten years as EU citizens or with a student residence permit are about 80% of the average earnings of persons of Finnish background. The average earnings of persons arriving on the basis of international protection or family reunion are clearly lower (50%). The education and skills immigrants have obtained in their home country is often not directly suitable for similar tasks in Finland. In addition, not all who have just moved to the country are fluent in Finnish or Swedish. For these reasons, immigrants are forced to either start their own business or work in low-pay industries that require little training. Employment rate growing among immigrants In recent years, a large number of working-age people of foreign background have joined the Finnish labour market. During the record year 2023, nearly 58,500 people immigrated to Finland. As of the end of 2022, one in ten (9.2%) of people in employment had a foreign background. According to Statistics Finland, work-based immigration is the reason why the country’s employment rate has remained high. In an article published in Tieto & Trendit (2023), Pekka Myrskylä examines Finland’s population as a whole. The employment rate of people of foreign background is the same as the national average, with 43% in gainful employment. The most significant difference is in the number of pensioners. More than one in four (28%) people of Finnish background are pensioners, compared to just 6% of those of foreign background. Sidestepping of needs testing an issue Some foreign employees come to Finland as EU citizens. They are required to register their employment in Finland within three months. Workers coming from outside the EU are subject to stricter monitoring by the authorities. The needs testing of immigration is carried out by region and profession twice a year. Needs testing is exclusive to blue-collar professions. The purpose of needs testing is to prevent a situation where replacement workforce is brought into the country. The fear is that the wages and other terms of employment of the workers that are replaced in this way are eroded. Jobs in a region should therefore be primarily offered to unemployed people in the industry. FACT TEXT ANU-HANNA ANTTILA STATISTICS MARKUS RANINEN GRAPHIC DESIGN EMILIE UGGLA So ur ce : In du st ria l Un io n €/month Finnish or Swedish n = 63 040 Collective agreement sector MEDIAN MONTHLY PAY BY AGREEMENT SECTOR Technology industry Rural industries Textiles services branch Horticultural branch Delivery personnel 1 000 2 000 3 000 Other language 3 402 2 972 2 415 2 487 2 210 2 162 1 877 2 015 1 788 2 267 LUE JUTTU SUOMEKSI www.tekijalehti.fi/ajassa For foreign-language members, a euro is 83 cents Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 18 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 18 7.8.2024 14.14 7.8.2024 14.14
• Olemme valmiit tekemään rakkaiden ihmisten eteen paljon – ja kaikkemme. Arjen pieniä ja elämän suuria tekoja. Entä pysähdytkö koskaan miettimään, kuinka läheisesi pärjäävät, kun et enää ole täällä? Juuri nyt pysähdyit. Henkivakuutus on rakkaudenosoitus läheisillesi. Sen ei tarvitse olla kallis, vaan voit valita Turvassa-henkivakuutuksen, joka on erityisesti ammattiliiton jäsenelle edullinen. Sen myöntää LähiTapiola Keskinäinen Henkivakuutusyhtiö. -52 % Henkivakuut uksen liittoetu vuonna 2024 Teollisuusliit on jäsenelle Laske oma hintasi! turva.fi/henkivakuutus Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 19 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 19 7.8.2024 14.14 7.8.2024 14.14
• 20 Tekijä 7-8/2024 Working hard to prevent exploitation “A lthough studies have shown that there is a lot of racism in Finland, this rarely comes up in my work as my focus is on the oversight of employers. Racism in the more broad form of unequal treatment, however, is something that I do see in my work,” says Katja-Pia Jenu, Senior Officer at the Division of Occupational Safety and Health of the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland. “At the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, we have a separate helpline for wellbeing at work and discrimination cases that people can contact if they have personally encountered discrimination or racism.” In her role, Jenu oversees that employers using foreign labour comply with the minimum pay and other terms of universally binding collective agreements. Among other things, this means that the wages and other terms of employment of foreign workers must be in line with those of other employees of the company or other companies in the same industry. According to Jenu, she rarely comes across situations in which the exploitation of foreign workers in the form of significantly lower pay or longer hours, for example, is done for purely ideological reasons. OBSERVER “Discrimination at work takes many forms. People who have personally experienced discrimination can contact us through the helpline. In my work, I encounter discrimination as part of work-related exploitation, with financial gain the underlying reason in nearly all cases.” ISSUES WITH WAGES ARE COMMONPLACE According to the oversight report by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, last year, regional state administrative agencies carried out more than 2,200 inspections of companies using foreign labour in Finland. About half of the inspections concerned the enforcement of minimum terms of employment. Many shortcomings were observed. Inspectors of regional state administrative agencies reported problems with wages in nearly half, or 47%, of inspections where the issue was under evaluation. “The results clearly show that problems with the payment of wages are commonplace. Still, it should be kept in mind that the companies were selected for inspection based on risk estimates, which means that we are either aware of problems in the industry or have received an inspection request from a third party or another public authority or some other kind of tip-off.” Last year, inspectors also monitored companies’ compliance with the prohibition of discrimination. This means that employees cannot be discriminated in terms of pay based on their origin or nationality. The authorities issued a total of 113 injunctions related to the ban of discrimination. In other words, violations of the ban were observed in 11% of inspections. The number of injunctions was at the same level as in 2022. In the supervision of seasonal labour, regional state administrative agencies carried out a total of 69 inspections related to the ban on discrimination. Of these employers, 9% were issued an injunction for failing to comply with the ban. In her work, Senior Officer Katja-Pia Jenu sees ideological racism only rarely, but problems with wages are all the more common. The exploitation of foreign workers can only be eliminated through long-term effort, communication and fines. TEXT TIIA KYYNÄRÄINEN PHOTO PEKKA ELOMAA Work-related exploitation is almost always driven by financial gain. Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 20 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 20 7.8.2024 14.14 7.8.2024 14.14
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 21 “Situations in which an injunction has been issued are clear cases of discrimination, where the employer has not been able to disprove the presumed discrimination detected by the inspection. Sometimes, the situation is not that clear. There are workplaces where discrimination is suspected to have taken place but cannot be proved due to the employer’s failure to keep track of working hours, for example.” “In serious violations of the law and criminal offences, the inspector is required to report the matter to the police. Last year, regional state administrative agencies filed 24 police reports for discrimination and extortion in employment and 5 reports for human trafficking.” AT-RISK INDUSTRIES UNDER SCRUTINY Most of the inspections performed by the authorities last year focused on hospitality and food service companies. Construction firms made up a slightly smaller percentage of the total. Industrial companies accounted for 6% and companies that employ seasonal workers 8% of the inspections. Jenu says that the industries covered by the inspections are based on observations from previous years, tip-offs received and the degree to which foreign labour is used in the industry. However, no industry is outside the scope of the authorities’ inspections. “For example, we receive very few requests for inspection and tip-offs for industrial companies. The number of inspections in industrial sectors could be higher if more requests for inspection were filed. It’s good to keep in mind that the authorities can also be tipped off anonymously.” LONG-TERM WORK IS NEEDED Jenu believes that preventing exploitation in employment requires diverse and long-term efforts. “Informing workers about the terms of employment in Finnish workplaces is one method. An example of this is the Industrial Union’s Hermes app. It is also important that there are channels through which people can report problems. This requires ensuring that authorities and non-profits have the necessary resources,” Jenu says. “In addition, if and when problems arise, violators must be held criminally liable. A sufficient number of precedent cases are needed in which the employer is penalised for exploitation.” ? It’s good to keep in mind that the authorities can also be tipped off anonymously. KATJA-PIA JENU Senior Officer at the Division of Occupational Safety and Health of the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland. Oversees companies that use foreign labour in Finland. Jenu has years of experience as an inspector. + LUE JUTTU SUOMEKSI www.tekijalehti.fi/ajassa CURRENT Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 21 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 21 7.8.2024 14.14 7.8.2024 14.14
• 22 Tekijä 7-8/2024 IN REVIEW Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 22 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 22 7.8.2024 14.14 7.8.2024 14.14
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 23 >> T he Finnish welfare society was built through cooperation after the First and Second World War. Workers, employers and governments sat down to negotiate and decide the future of the country. Key social safety nets, such as social security and the pension system, have been built through tripartite negotiations. “The trade union movement has been strongly involved in negotiating and reaching solutions during difficult times,” says Jyrki Virtanen, Labour Market Director at the Industrial Union. The core mission of the trade union movement has not changed significantly during its history. Today, the trade union movement continues to defend workers and the weakest in society. “The conflict between workers and capital has not disappeared. The trade union movement seeks to level the playing field,” Virtanen says. COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS BRING SECURITY A collective agreement is a tool used to ensure reasonable working conditions and minimum wages. In most industries, collective agreements are universally binding, which means that they must be followed at all workplaces. “Collective agreements are the core mission of the trade union and the most important benefit to members”, Virtanen says. In order for a trade union to negotiate reasonable collective agreements, it must have the mass power of a large membership. “The trade union movement is not a building The trade union movement is a key builder of the Finnish welfare society. The movement’s strength comes from active members. The task is to defend workers and the weakest in society. TEXT ANTTI HYVÄRINEN ILLUSTRATION TUOMAS IKONEN Livelihood, security and influence in Hakaniemi, Helsinki. It is made up of members who believe in the movement,” Virtanen says. A SOCIETY FOR EVERYONE In many respects, the traditional model for agreeing on common issues has come to an end, as the side of employers has cut off tripartite negotiations and the right-wing government of Orpo and Purra has set out to shape society while ignoring the concerns of workers. “Society should be for everyone, not just for employers and right-wing parties,” Virtanen says. In the current state of affairs, the need for mass movement and activism is clear. “If the level of unionisation of workers is not high enough and people do not vote for parties that push the interests of ordinary people, then we’re headed in the wrong direction,” says Virtanen. THE SAME RULES FOR EVERYONE As Finland’s population ages, maintaining the current society requires immigration and new working-age Finns. However, the current government's policy seems to create opportunities for the exploitation and unequal treatment of immigrants by employers. The trade union movement fights for equal rights and benefits for everyone working in Finland. “Society must be built in a way that ensures that people coming from elsewhere are not treated as second class citizens. We must have a society that people want to move to and feel welcome in,” Virtanen says. CURRENT Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 23 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 23 7.8.2024 14.14 7.8.2024 14.14
• 24 Tekijä 7-8/2024 BUILDING A MORE HUMANE FINLAND Finnish society would look very different without the existence of a strong trade union movement to negotiate with employers and the central government, says Senior Lecturer Mika Helander from Åbo Akademi. “Their significance has been tremendous. The trade union movement has found effective ways to guide society in a more humane direction through negotiations and agreements,” Helander says. Historically, the working class and owning class used to be clearly separate from one another. More recently, the ownership of publicly listed companies has become more scattered and the class identities of workers more diverse. National borders are also becoming less relevant. “The trade union movement has not been fully able to keep up in the transformation of capitalism. Capital is no longer that interested in negotiations,” Helander says. For immigrants arriving in Finland, the trade union is a way to settle into the new country and become an active member of society. MIKA HÄKKINEN Organising Coordinator, Industrial Union IN REVIEW In public policy, it is important to understand that choices have far-reaching effects. Budget cuts in one place can lead to a larger bill somewhere else. “There are people in leadership positions who fail to understand the indirect and cascading effects within society.” Helander believes that the primary function of the trade union movement—now and in the future— is to increase the level of information and understanding of society. “Democracy is based on a large proportion of the population having an understanding of social issues. The trade union movement has an important educational task in society,” Helander says. ACTIVE CIVIL SOCIETY Joining a trade union is a way to look after your terms of employment and make a difference in the workplace and the larger society. “The trade union is a channel through which people can get their voice heard,” says Mika Häkkinen, Organising Coordinator of the Industrial Union. An active trade union movement is part of a functioning and active civil society. “Without civic participation, there is no democracy. The definition of democracy is that people have the right and freedom to participate in public activities and decision-making. It is absolutely not limited to voting alone,” says Häkkinen. The Serious Grounds campaign by member unions of the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK, which opposed the politics of the right-wing Orpo-Purra government, was an example of interest representation by trade unions. More than 2,000 Industrial Union members participated in strike committees, and as many as 60,000 took part in the political strikes. The restrictions on employees’ right to strike were rammed through by the government and came into force on 18 May 2024. “Restricting citizens’ freedom of action is a sure sign that we are treading in dangerous waters. Something is not right when the interests of businesses are more important than those of citizens, says Häkkinen. DIRECT INTERACTION These days, we hear a lot of talk about individualism, but the need for communities has not gone anywhere. “The workplace is where trade unions live and breathe at their purest. There, community building happens in practice,” says Häkkinen. Electronic connections have made the world smaller, but people still have the basic need to see others face-to-face. “The secret weapon of trade unions is direct human interaction, on which everything else is built.” When dealing with international conglomerates, the advocacy work of trade unions must be global in scope. While there are good examples of cross-border advocacy work, much work remains to be done. Political regulation is also needed to offset the negative effects of the free movement of capital. “In order for people to rediscover the importance of negotiation, restrictions must be placed on the kind of capitalism that is indifferent towards consequences.” A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING In Helander’s estimate, societies today are plagued by a lack of understanding. People both refuse to understand the views of the opposing side and fail to understand how society functions. “Society is a complex system, with conflicts of interest that are not the result of ill will but are caused by structures. Different views need to be listened to,” Helander says. Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 24 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 24 7.8.2024 14.14 7.8.2024 14.14
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 25 It’s always a good thing to belong to a union. Häkkinen says that the reasons for joining are the same for Finnish and foreign workers. Unionisation is the way to protect terms of employment and wages. “For immigrants arriving in Finland, the trade union is a way to settle into the new country and become an active member of society.” SUPPORT AND BALANCE Niko Pankka, Head of Public Affairs at the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK, says that working life is undergoing significant changes due to digitalisation, globalisation and the green transition. An essential role of trade unions is to support workers during this transformation. “The role and mission of the trade union movement is about building a better working life and influencing workplaces and society as a whole,” says Pankka. The politics of the right-wing Orpo-Purra government weaken the position of employees in many ways. “If the government implements its programme as planned, policies to offset the impacts will be necessary in future parliamentary sessions.” Possible balancing measures could involve increasing employee representation and power in corporate governance and by transferring the priority of interpretation in disputes to employees. In the future, generic public advocacy work and things like election campaigns will become more important than ever. “Advocacy work will focus more on influencing at the grassroots level instead of participating in official negotiations,” says Pankka. NEW MEMBERS As a result of the politics of Finland’s right-wing government, the exploitation of foreign workers threatens to become more commonplace. “The risk of foreign workers agreeing to bad terms of employment due to a lack of information or under pressure is great,” says Pankka. Information and mass power are also what protect the rights of workers of foreign background. “It is essential that we are able to increase the unionisation rate of employees of foreign background. The trade union movement could be more involved in the processes of work-based immigration. This way, the union could reach out to new workers and disseminate information from early on.” The environment in which the trade union movement operates has changed drastically in recent decades, but a healthy society will continue to need trade unions. “As the government has admitted, the best knowledge of working life is in trade unions. Their role is important now and in the future,” says Pankka. ? + LUE JUTTU SUOMEKSI www.tekijalehti.fi/ajassa READ THE ARTICLE IN NINE LANGUAGES www.tekijalehti.fi/ in-english CURRENT Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 25 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 25 7.8.2024 14.14 7.8.2024 14.14
• AT THE WORKPLACE “I’m always happy “I’m always happy when I come to work,” when I come to work,” says Medalith Ponce, says Medalith Ponce, greenhouse worker and greenhouse worker and occupational safety occupational safety representative. representative. 26 Tekijä 7-8/2024 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 26 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 26 7.8.2024 14.14 7.8.2024 14.14
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 27 In support of green foods and multiculturalism Famifarm Oy, a company owned by Järvikylä Manor in Joroinen, grows herbs and salads for the whole of Finland, all year round. Finns are a minority of the company’s employees. The multilingual and multinational work community has formed gradually and through referrals by old employees. TEXT MILLA BOUQUEREL PHOTOS MATIAS HONKAMAA WORK >> Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 27 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 27 7.8.2024 14.14 7.8.2024 14.14
• 28 Tekijä 7-8/2024 G reenhouse worker Medalith Ponce stands in the middle of a vast stretch of green. Ponce lifts up the plastic growing troughs and checks that the salads are getting water. The company’s story begins in the 1980s in a greenhouse built in the attic of a barn in Järvikylä Manor in Joroinen. Today, the company’s salads and herbs are delivered all over Finland and parts of Estonia. Jaakko Huovinen, Production Director, says that the first foreign employees in Famifarm’s greenhouse came from Estonia in the 1990s. Now, the production facility covers an area of 8 hectares. Employees representing 15 different nationalities from Europe, Asia, Africa and South America work in two shifts. Salads and herbs are grown all year round. The time from seedling to harvest is 3 to 7 weeks. >> FAMIFARM OY AT THE WORKPLACE FOUNDED in 1987. The owner of Järvikylä Manor, Karl Grotenfelt, founded Famifarm Oy in a greenhouse built in the attic of the manor’s barn. LOCATION Joroinen. Vertical farming facility opened in Juva in late 2023. Sales office in Helsinki. OWNERS Primary owners: siblings Caroline Grotenfelt-Fyhr (Managing Director) and Albert Grotenfelt (President of the Board) PRODUCTION Herbs and salads to Finnish and Estonian markets. Product range includes 15 different salads and 35 herbs. EMPLOYEES 160, of whom around 140 people in production tasks (including maintenance) TURNOVER 23.1 million euros (in 2023). Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 28 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 28 7.8.2024 14.15 7.8.2024 14.15
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 29 Over the years, the company has perfected its hiring process. The language requirement is Finnish or English. “We don’t test applicants’ language skills, but we do check during the interview that we can communicate and understand each other at a sufficient level.” “It’s also a question of safety,” Huovinen says. Ponce, who is from Peru, serves as the occupational safety representative for the workplace. “When a new employee is hired, they are given as much help and support as possible,” Ponce says. IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET TO KNOW A FINN “Busy. Pretty nice,” says Ponce, who has moved to the trough washing station, when asked about her work. “I’m always happy when I come to work, even if it can get busy.” Famifarm’s orders have short delivery times. Products are delivered to the customer usually the next day after an order and in 72 hours at the most. Around 80,000 seedlings of salads and herbs are planted each day. The growing time is three to seven weeks. Work in the greenhouses follows the harvesting schedule. When Ponce started at Famifarm seven years ago, she had never seen so many foreigners in Finland. “In Varkaus, I always felt a little different. I spent time with Finns and learned the language.” When Ponce arrived in Finland from Peru around Christmas 2000, her first impression of the country was that “all Finns look and sound the same.” Vinh Cao Thi Anh packs salads. Cao Thi Anh studied in Vietnam to a payroll accountant before moving to Finland. >> >> WORK Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 29 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 29 7.8.2024 14.15 7.8.2024 14.15
• 30 Tekijä 7-8/2024 “I found Finns to be calm and shy, even cold.” Whereas people in Peru want to communicate, Finns prefer to get to know the other person. “People would observe what I was doing but didn’t have the courage to speak to me,” Ponce recalls. EMPLOYEES RECOMMEND WORK AT THE GREENHOUSE TO FRIENDS “Järvikylä is a great place to work in Finland and even on a global scale,” says shift leader Aneel Harison. “I was welcome here when I couldn’t find work elsewhere.” Harison, who is from Pakistan, feels that the multicultural environment makes the workplace easy for new employees to join. “The work atmosphere is good. No one is bullied or harassed. Everyone respects each other.” Although the atmosphere at Famifarm is encouraging and warm, Ponce remembers experiencing racism early on during her employment. "While working on the production line, I overheard people saying unpleasant things about foreigners. The worst part was that I knew Finnish and could understand what was said. Many times, I’d go home from work in tears.” These days, employees have no longer faced discrimination. New workers often come to Famifarm at the encouragement of old employees. I found Finns to be calm and shy. MEDALITH PONCE Greenhouse worker and occupational safety representative AT THE WORKPLACE A positive experience of self-growth “I still have the same passion for the work as when I first came here,” says Phung Luong Tieu. Tieu, who is just over 30 years old and originally from Vietnam, first started work at the greenhouse as peak season help a few months after arriving in Finland on a spouse visa. Last spring, Tieu was promoted as foreman of the seedling team. Before that, she worked for five years as a shift leader. Tieu says that her time at Famifarm has helped her grow and change as a person. “I didn't have a lot of work experience and was really shy back then.” What have those changes looked like? Tieu thinks for a moment. “When the employer presented me with an opportunity, I realised that I could learn and develop and also give myself a chance.” Tieu says that she doesn’t hesitate anymore. Her shield is dropped. “I'm going forward with the company. I'm open to new things.” A GOOD FOREMAN KNOWS WHAT EMPLOYEES NEED In Vietnam, Tieu ran a hair salon with her mother. Tieu considers Famifarm to be her dream job. “I like vegetables. You can’t make a Vietnamese dish without vegetables. Coming to work at Järvikylä was a positive experience for me. As foreman, Tieu draws from her background as a greenhouse worker. “I want to create a comfortable working environment where people can share thoughts and be heard. Because I used to be an employee, I know what it takes to achieve that.” Tieu reflects on what was the biggest thing that made her progress in her career: “I’m the kind of person that I always do things diligently and all the way.” According to Tieu, diversity is one of Famifarm’s strengths. “It makes us strong. We’re always learning from each other.” When the employer presented me with an opportunity, I realised that I could learn and develop and also give myself a chance. PHUNG LUONG TIEU Foreman Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 30 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 30 7.8.2024 14.15 7.8.2024 14.15
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 31 Harison, who has lived in Finland for 15 years, has a vocational qualification in institutional catering. While working in a coffee shop, he got acquainted with a fellow Pakistani, who recommended that he apply to work at Famifarm. “I was single at the time and it was easy for me to change jobs,” says Aneel, who is now a father of two. Harison was surprised to see so many other nationalities, including his fellow countrymen, in the small town of Joroinen. Ponce had just come back to Finland from Peru when a friend brought her to see the greenhouses. “I remember standing in the yard and thinking I’m not going in there. It looked so small from the outside,” Ponce recalls, laughing. RESPECT FOR CULTURES IS KEY Every day, ten trucks loaded full with greens leave the Järvikylä loading yard. In the cool warehouse, where the final steps of Famifarm production process take place, dispatch room worker Rizana Sheriff signs off the day's outgoing deliveries on a digital picking list. “The dispatch department has a great responsibility to ensure that customers receive what they have ordered and that deliveries are sent off on time.” “Equality, respect for other cultures, teamwork and kindness,” Sheriff says, listing things that she values in her workplace. Sheriff is a newcomer at the workplace. She found the job through recommendations by others. “A recommendation by an employee is a big deal. If I recommend a job to a friend or family member, I need to be happy there myself.” Sheriff enjoys her work. “As an employee, I feel that I am taken care of. My opinion matters.” Sheriff, who is from Sri Lanka, speaks English and is studying Finnish in the evenings with an online course. “It’s all about your motivation for self-studying. The most important thing is to try, even if you make mistakes with the grammar.” “When I came to the dispatch department, there were only Finns working here, but I never felt excluded. Now, I speak Finnish and they help me learn the language.” Finns make up a third of all of Famifarm’s employees, but only around 10% of production workers. In the dispatch warehouse, we meet Mika Laitinen, who represents the minority of ethnic Finns. Laitinen says that he pays no attention to the matter. “One place where it is noticeable is the fact that not all employees necessarily know Finnish.” Laitinen says that his English skills have also improved. “In turn, I teach Finnish to those who are learning the language.” EMPLOYEES WISH FOR FINNISH LANGUAGE TEACHING Famifarm produces 25 million potted herbs and salads each year. A tour of the production facilities and workstations shows the journey of salads from seedlings to fully grown plants, after which they are weighed and shipped off to consumers. Shift leaders Aneel Harison and Natalia Baltsevich review the day’s order list. The Evening shift leader Aneel Harison (left) receives the shift roster and the day’s schedule from Prathum Rahikainen, whose morning shift is ending. >> >> WORK Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 31 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 31 7.8.2024 14.15 7.8.2024 14.15
• 32 Tekijä 7-8/2024 work is as much about taking care of paperwork as meeting people. “During my shift, I check that people work well and safely and that products are delivered to the packaging room on time,” Baltsevich describes her work. Baltsevich and her husband initially tried out the work by commuting from across the border before deciding to move to Finland. “We had long wanted to move to Finland. Many of our relatives live here.” Also in Natalia’s case, she has relatives who also work at Famifarm. “When I moved here, I didn’t speak much Finnish, but it didn’t matter. Everyone is helpful and friendly,” says Baltshevich, who moved to Finland from Russia. Baltsevich was already proficient in Finnish when she switched to a team where nobody else speaks Finnish. “Now I’m studying English.” Famifarm has offered Finnish language courses in the past. According to the employees, the teaching wasn’t challenging enough, and the courses weren’t popular. Harison feels that there is a need for language courses. “There’s more to life than the work we do here in Järvikylä. You can’t always get by with only English.” Later, Pia Honkanen, HR manager at Famifarm, says that the company has heard the wishes for language courses. “Together with a few service providers, we are looking at the possibility of offering courses with different skill levels and teaching methods.” WANTED: SHOP STEWARD Famifarm’s production workers are not currently represented by a shop steward. Ponce and Harison agree that having a shop steward would be useful. “We have so many foreigners working here. It would be good to have someone who isn’t affiliated with the employer and to whom employees could turn to with problems.” Ponce feels that the Finnish language requirement may discourage potential candidates. “It’s a big responsibility and requires knowledge of the law. There’s a lot to learn.” Production Director Huovinen says that proficiency in Finnish is not a requirement for the shop steward. English is sufficient for taking care of matters. “We encourage employees to elect a shop steward with whom we could work together to improve the workplace.” Huovinen wants to know what kind of support or advice foreign employees would like to receive from a Finnish employer. Ponce brings up the bureaucracy and residence permits. A permanent residence permit requires a steady job. That is a harsh requirement in today’s job market in Finland. “There’s always the uncertainty of whether you’ll still be employed in the future,” Ponce says. ? Shift leaders Natalia Baltsevich (left) and Aneel Harison check the growth rate of herbs. Depending on daily growth rate, sales can be decreased or increased. >> AT THE WORKPLACE The work atmosphere is good. No one is bullied or harassed. Everyone is respectful of each other. ANEEL HARISON Shift leader Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 32 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 32 7.8.2024 14.15 7.8.2024 14.15
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 33 “A recommendation by an employee is a big deal. If I recommend a job to a friend or family member, I need to be happy there myself.” RIZANA SHERIFF Dispatch room worker + LUE JUTTU SUOMEKSI www.tekijalehti.fi/tyossa READ THE ARTICLE IN NINE LANGUAGES www.tekijalehti.fi/ in-english WORK Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 33 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 33 7.8.2024 14.15 7.8.2024 14.15
• 34 Tekijä 7-8/2024 The Work Environment Unit helps, advises and supports “T he Work Environment Unit of the Industrial Union handles issues related to occupational safety and well-being and how to improve them in workplaces. Our unit also develops working life in many ways and in different working groups involved in legislation. We also deal with various social security appeals processes and social policy issues,” says Vesa Kotaviita, Head of the Work Environment Unit. “In addition to these, we handle issues related to equality and non-discrimination and promote them in various ways in cooperation with the union’s Work Environment and Equality Section.” The Work Environment Unit works in close cooperation with the union’s advocacy sectors and supports collective bargaining negotiations that touch on key issues overseen by the unit. It participates in the preparation of the union’s policy on advocacy and social impact and in the organisation of advisory services within its area of activities. “We maintain close and mutual contact with occupational safety representatives. We are also a significant organiser of different training courses at the Murikka Institute and in training offered to local branches.” One tangible way in which the unit’s work is visible to members is the advisory service for work environment and social security issues, which is available daily. The service provides assistance, guidance and support to members and workplaces in issues related to the work environment and social security. Compiled by Tiia Kyynäräinen “Members receive information about workplace health and safety on topics such as personal protective equipment or working in the heat through occupational safety representatives and our unit’s other communications. We also provide legal aid for our members in cases that involve serious work accidents.” THE WORK ENVIRONMENT IS CHANGING According to Kotaviita, occupational health and safety at workplaces in the Industrial Union’s collective agreement sectors has improved over the years, but much work remains to be done. “Still, it is notable that workplaces increasingly fall in one of the two extremes. There are companies that do things properly, go over occupational health and safety issues on a daily basis, identify hazards and assess risks. However, there are also still companies in which things are not in a good state, corrective action is taken only when something bad happens and preventive measures required by law are missing. Finnish working life is changing, and this also affects occupational health and safety. According to Kotaviita, changes to the requirements of work also change what is meant by occupational health and safety. “It is increasingly important to take the psychosocial load factors of work into consideration. Digitalisation, robotics and artificial intelligence are changing the way people work,” says Kotaviita. “In the future, we’re going to see cognitive factors, memory, thinking and information processing have an increasingly central role in occupational health and safety. Workplaces need to ensure employees’ competence and safety at work in a way that ensures that employees’ job resources are in balance." ? Key areas for the Industrial Union’s Work Environment Unit include occupational safety and health, well-being at work, development of working life and issues related to social policy, equality and non-discrimination. WORK ENVIRONMENT TU U KK A RA N TA LA “Workplaces need to ensure employees’ competence and safety at work,” says Vesa Kotaviita, Head of the Work Environment Unit. + LUE JUTTU SUOMEKSI www.tekijalehti.fi/tyossa READ THE ARTICLE IN NINE LANGUAGES www.tekijalehti.fi/ in-english Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 34 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 34 7.8.2024 14.15 7.8.2024 14.15
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 35 The Work Environment Unit helps, advises and supports I have recently moved to Finland and would like information about Finnish working life and living in Finland. I am a member of the Industrial Union. Where can I find help? You can find comprehensive information about living in Finland in 12 different languages at: www.infofinland.fi The Finnish OSH Administration on safety at work in 14 different languages: www.tyosuojelu.fi/ oppaat Information about social security on the website of the Social Insurance Institution Kela: www.kela.fi/ other-languages Detailed information about Finnish working life on Työelämän pelisäännöt – Fair play at work : www.tyoelamanpelisaannot.fi MIELI Mental Health Finland The crisis helpline can assist when you go through changes in life, feel bad or unable to cope alone with fear, worry or loss. The helpline is available in five languages: www.mieli.fi/ kriisipuhelin The Industrial Union’s mobile app Hermes is intended for workers in the technology industry, agriculture, horticulture, forestry and tree nursery industries. Information on the terms of employment in nine languages: www.teollisuusliitto.fi/ hermes In matters at the workplace, you are assisted by the shop steward elected by members of the Industrial Union and your workplace’s occupational safety representative. Don’t be afraid to turn to them if you have any problems at work. You can also call the Industrial Union’s helplines on weekdays. The helplines provide service in at least three languages or more if necessary. The telephone service numbers are listed on the Industrial Union’s website: www.teollisuusliitto.fi IS TO CK ADVICE Extreme temperatures put strain on the body TEMPERATURE Different temperature conditions have an impact on the load caused to employees at work. Both extreme heat and cold put strain on the body and lead to worse work performance. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the employer must determine whether work involves a hazard that causes harm to the employee's health. This is based on an investigation and assessment of hazards at work. Temperature recommendations have been issued for different types of work. The employer must take action to improve working conditions especially when air temperature in the workplace exceeds 28°C or is below the recommended temperatures as follows: 20°C in light desk work, 18°C in light physical work, 15°C in moderate physical work and 10°C in heavy physical work. If the temperature exceeds 28°C, the employer must limit the amount of time employees spend in the working environment. Employees also have responsibilities INSTRUCTIONS According to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employees also have responsibilities related to safety at work. By law, employees are obliged to follow the safety instructions provided and observe the caution necessary to ensure workplace safety. Employees are also responsible for promptly reporting any flaws or shortcomings they observe and must wear the required personal protective equipment. Employees also need to be able to operate machines and tools as well as their safety and protective devices correctly according to instructions and based on their professional skills and work experience. Employees must also refrain from harassment and inappropriate treatment. ? WORK Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 35 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 35 7.8.2024 14.15 7.8.2024 14.15
• 36 Tekijä 7-8/2024 WORKFORCE Finland needs extra hands from around the world As skilled technology workers retire, new talent is needed to ensure the industry’s future. Finland’s own population is not enough, and the country must turn to workers from the rest of the world. TEXT SAMI TURUNEN PHOTOS PEKKA ELOMAA AND EERO MANNINEN T he technology industry is a major employer of some 330,000 people in total in Finland. However, around 8,000 people retire from the industry each year. The industry is looking on with interest and concern how and where replacement talent will be found. “Despite the current slump in the economy, our sights are set on long-term needs. We are just starting a new survey on future talent needs, but a similar report from three years ago showed that over the next decade, Finland will need about 130,000 new skilled workers,” says Eero Manninen. Manninen is a Senior Advisor at Technology Industries of Finland responsible for competence and work-based immigration. According to estimates, 60% of the need for skilled workers is for tasks requiring a higher education degree and 40% for tasks requiring vocational education. In the future, demand for workers in design and product development with a higher education degree will increase, but workers in manufacturing jobs need not be concerned. “Manufacturing jobs are unlikely to end or decrease drastically in Finland in the coming years. Professional skills and education are absolutely needed,” Manninen says. Growing technology sectors include the semiconductor, ICT, electronics and electrical industries, among others. ATTRACTING YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE INDUSTRY The technology industry is putting in a lot of effort to encourage young people to pursue studies in the industry. This work is producing results, although slowly. In the higher education joint application system, the numbers of applications to technology industries have remained relatively stable. “Vocational education is essential to preventing necessary skills from disappearing from Finland. Effective pathways also need to be ensured for those who wish to continue their studies in higher education.” The mytech.fi website by the Technology Industries of Finland shares information and advertises the sector to young people with videos and social media campaigns. Teachers and guidance counsellors can use the material with lower and upper secondary school students. Manninen would also like to see more women in the technology sector. According to the Nuorten tulevaisuusraportti report on young people’s outlook for the future by Junior Achievement Finland, fewer than one in ten girls would consider working in the sector. A SHORTAGE OF FINNISH TALENT Professionals are needed, but other industries are also affected by labour shortages. The competition for employees is fierce. According to Manninen, it is clear that Finland alone is not enough to supply the workforce needed by the sector. That’s why Technology Industries of Finland has been a longtime advocate of work-based immigration. “We need the kind of society and processes that allow people to move here to work, study or start a business and integrate smoothly into Finnish society.” “An ageing society like Finland has no choice but to become more diverse,” says Eero Manninen, Senior Advisor at Technology Industries of Finland. EE RO M A N NI NE N Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 36 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 36 7.8.2024 14.15 7.8.2024 14.15
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 37 Technology Industries of Finland has calculated that in order to prevent the dependency ratio of the population from becoming too high, net immigration should be at a level of around 50,000 people each year. A similar figure of an annual net immigration of 44,000 people is also given by ETLA Economic Research. According to Statistics Finland, the year 2023 was record-breaking, with a net immigration of around 58,000 people. “This is a positive thing, even though much of it had to do with the war in Ukraine. Immigration must absolutely be seen as an investment for Finland.” At the moment, however, the government, especially at the behest of the Finns Party, makes it harder to move to Finland for work. For example, a proposed law would shorten the time allowed to be used for job search in Finland to three months. “We are concerned about the impact this has on Finland’s attractiveness and ability to hold on to skilled workers. HIGH DEMAND FOR SKILLED WORKERS Skilled professionals are found all over the world, and Finnish companies recruit talent wherever they find it. According to Manninen, the processes for work-based immigration are relatively smooth in Finland and should be kept that way. “The best talents can pick and choose between countries when considering where to move. That’s why we need to have effective support for integration and services for the whole family.” Member companies of Technology Industries of Finland have also been worried what might WORK FOR THOSE COMING TO FINLAND ? Technology companies employ around 330,000 people in Finland directly and 720,000 indirectly. ? The share of international employees has grown in recent years, especially in the electronics, electrical and IT industries. ? In 2023, a total of 16,999 work-based residence permit applications were submitted in Finland. The number fell by 19% from the previous year. ? Between January and February 2024, a total of 2,733 work-based residence permit applications were submitted. The number of applications to be received during the entire year is estimated at 19,000. In 2025, the number of applications is estimated at 20,500. Sources: Technology Industries of Finland and the Finnish Immigration Service Migri happen if, for example, the three-month rule is passed into law under the proposed model. “Hopefully, there is still time in the legislative process to stop and consider the consequences. After all, Finland is a relatively small country on the periphery of Europe, and reputational issues such as this travel fast and wide in the networks of skilled workers,” Eero Manninen says. “In order to maintain something that even resembles our current welfare society, an ageing society like Finland has no choice but to become more diverse.” ? Mahdi (left) and Haider from Iraq and Emmanuel from Nigeria studied in the welder training course for immigrants at Varia vocational college in Vantaa in 2018. Read the story: www.tekijalehti.fi/ pommeja-pakoon >> PE KK A EL O M A A + LUE JUTTU SUOMEKSI www.tekijalehti.fi/tyossa WORK Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 37 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 37 7.8.2024 14.15 7.8.2024 14.15
• JAAN PAAVOLA Textile care worker Comforta Oy Tampere VIMUKTHI MADANAYAKA Textile care worker Comforta Oy Tampere Humour connects textile care workers TEXT MEERI YLÄ-TUUHONEN PHOTO JYRKI LUUKKONEN COWORKERS 38 Tekijä 7-8/2024 + LUE JUTTU SUOMEKSI www.tekijalehti.fi/tyossa Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 38 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 38 7.8.2024 14.15 7.8.2024 14.15
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 39 day since there’s usually no time to get anything done before your shift. JAAN: I’m not fan of evening shifts either. We put more of ourselves into our work than we get in return, but I suppose that the same is true in many other jobs. I have no complaints about the work itself. VIMUKTHI: I think my pay is okay. It’s enough to keep the bills paid. JAAN: Safety at work has become our number one priority, but there are always problems with the roller cages. Some of them are crooked and can’t be opened or closed. A roller cage full of textiles can also burst open suddenly on the employee’s face, for example. VIMUKTHI: Those who handle the sorting of hospital laundry work hard because the laundry is so dirty. They were recently given workshirts with long sleeves. JAAN: Because of how dirty the textiles are, a long-sleeved shirt is more comfortable even as the work is often sweaty. “WE JOKE ABOUT EVERYTHING” VIMUKTHI: Jaan is a really great coworker. He's pleasant and kind. Jaan is also my first and only Finnish friend. JAAN: Vimukthi is always cheerful. It’s contagious. It’s pleasant to work with him because he’s not afraid of learning new things and doesn’t hesitate to ask if there’s something wrong. VIMUKTHI: I like working with Jaan because we joke around a lot. JAAN: We joke about everything there is to find humour in. It’s our way to liven up the work day. We haven't gotten together outside work yet, but we do exchange messages on Instagram. VIMUKTHI: Recently, Jaan asked me to play basketball with him. JAAN: English is our common language. I feel like my English is pretty good, but sometimes I struggle to find words. Vimukthi helps me with English vocabulary or gives me time to think of the right word. VIMUKTHI: I didn't know much about Finland when I first came to work here, but I’ve learnt a lot from Jaan about things like culture and the school system. JAAN: We like to compare each other’s home countries and cultures and talk about differences, things like how rice is cooked and so on. ? J AAN PAAVOLA: In the spring of 2017, I was thinking about where to apply for a summer job. My brother worked at Comforta and I asked him if I could also get a job here. I was a summer worker for the first two years before becoming a full-time employee. VIMUKTHI MADANAYAKA: I’m from Sri Lanka and came to Finland to study textile and material engineering in the autumn of 2022. My teacher at Tampere University of Applied Sciences told me that I could do my internship at Comforta. After working for a month at Comforta Vantaa, I transferred here last summer. JAAN: We were assigned to the same team at work and started getting to know each other more. I also trained Vimukthi on the procedure for receiving deliveries of dirty laundry. We worked at the same station for a week and got to talking a fair bit. VIMUKTHI: After the internship, I continued here because I enjoy the work. I have really nice coworkers and a flexible employer. If I need time off for my studies, it can usually be arranged. VARIABILITY IN TASKS A PLUS VIMUKTHI: When I started my internship, the only thing I knew about Comforta was that it was a laundry. My tasks rotate between receiving deliveries, operating the mangle, packing and folding. JAAN: Delivery reception decides which of the used laundry coming in is washed. At the mangle station, clean towels and bed linen are fed into the machine. At the other end of the mangle, the textiles are counted and packed into roller cages for shipment to customers. At the folding station, we fold the clothes to be shipped to customers. VIMUKTHI: I like receiving deliveries the most. When I was being trained by Jaan, I felt that the job was difficult, but when I got used to it, I found it to be quite exciting. There’s always something to do. JAAN: I enjoy collecting hospital textile deliveries. I can walk around with a roller cage and load textiles from other rollers for the shipment. Unlike at the back end of the mangle where things can get hectic, there’s no rush when collecting hospital deliveries. EVENING SHIFTS TAKE THEIR TOLL JAAN: We work in three shifts. I can’t quite get into the rhythm of things in shift work. Every week, I have to think about the cycle of working and sleeping that week. VIMUKTHI: Morning and night shifts are okay, but I don’t enjoy evening shifts. They tend to mess up your whole Jaan is my first and only Finnish friend. WORK Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 39 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 39 7.8.2024 14.15 7.8.2024 14.15
• 40 Tekijä 7-8/2024 The Foreign Labour Unit responds to the transformation in labour markets Riikka Vasama, head of the Industrial Union’s Foreign Labour Unit, sees the new unit's focus to be on developing the organisation of the Industrial Union in matters related to diversity in working life. TEXT TIIA KYYNÄRÄINEN PHOTO ANTTI HYVÄRINEN UNIT Riikka Vasama, Head of the Foreign Labour Unit, says that the new unit wants to develop the union to be one where everyone can fit under one umbrella. >> Hermes is one tangible example of the work done in our unit. + LUE JUTTU SUOMEKSI www.tekijalehti.fi/liitossa READ THE ARTICLE IN NINE LANGUAGES www.tekijalehti.fi/ in-english + ALSO IN SWEDISH Swedish translation on page 50 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 40 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 40 7.8.2024 14.15 7.8.2024 14.15
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 41 UNION I n response to the transformation of working life, the Industrial Union has decided to establish a new Foreign Labour Unit. Its goal is to develop the union’s ability to take in members who speak other languages, take their needs into consideration and involve them in the union’s activities. The unit is headed by Riikka Vasama. “I am very proud of the Industrial Union for establishing and investing in the new unit. This is how we stay involved in the transformation of working life,” Vasama says. “The theme also came up in speeches given at the Union Congress. This is a clear example that member initiatives can lead to visible changes.” Besides developing the union’s activities, the unit is also tasked with the development of Finnish society to improve the well-being and conditions of everyone working in Finland. FOCUS ON HERMES AND TRAINING The unit began its work in early August. Early on, the unit’s focus is on developing and maintaining the Industrial Union’s Hermes mobile app. Among other things, the app offers information about practices in Finnish working life in nine languages. “Hermes is one tangible example of the work done in our unit. It has recently expanded to include the technology industry, but our other agreement sectors will also be covered by the app in the future,” Vasama explains. “The app is intended as a tool for our union representatives at workplaces, members and staff. In addition to rules and practices in the labour market, the app contains information about the union and its activities in several languages. In connection with the app’s development, the union also took down language barriers by publishing membership application forms in several languages.” In addition to the app, the unit provides training to the union’s staff and representatives at workplaces. “Our role is to increase understanding and competence about how working life is perceived by foreign workers. This involves a lot of special characteristics and know-how, such as work permit procedures and knowledge of the requirements of the Aliens Act.” In addition, the unit supports the union’s advisory service for members. Vasama notes that the advocacy of persons with a non-Finnish background requires a different kind of sensitivity than advocacy work involving Finnish workers, for example. People arriving from outside the EU stay in Finland with a work permit. This may lower their willingness to work with a union and receive assistance in case of disputes with the employer. “When we help, provide advice or deal with conflicts, we need to be able to act and recognise the risk that the person may end up in trouble by defending their rights. Even now, we are seeing cases where the employment is terminated following a dispute with the employer,” Vasama says. “Although work permits are not employerspecific, it is very difficult for a person who is not fluent in Finnish and has little networks to find new work, at least on short notice. The situation may become even harsher if the current Finnish government's plans to require workers to leave the country within three months of the employment relationship ending are put into practice.” According to Vasama, the unit wants to see a union that can fit everyone under its umbrella. “Naturally, we also want to increase the representation of workers who speak different languages among the representatives at workplaces and decision-making bodies.” NEW MEMBERS THROUGH PEOPLE The Finnish labour market has become significantly more international in recent years. The number of workers born outside Finland has increased in the labour market. However, the number of foreigners who are members of a trade union has not grown at the same rate. “In many cases, this is already due to the fact that workers coming from other countries lack information about the Finnish labour market and the role of trade unions. On the contrary, they can often have significant prejudices depending on the country of origin.” According to Vasama, it is crucial that information about our labour markets and trade unions is shared as widely as possible. This is where the Hermes app has an important role. “I have high hopes for Hermes. As the app continues to expand and becomes more widely known, we will be able to share valuable information to an even larger audience. After all, the most essential feature of the app is that you’re able to change languages with the touch of a button and find information in many languages.” Vasama also believes that information spreads effectively from people to people. “I am a strong believer in the power of word of mouth. Experience has taught me that satisfied members will spread the word and lead to new members joining the union,” Vasama says. “Cooperation with the authorities is also important. Although the authorities do not explicitly instruct employees to join a trade union, they have shared information about the app. A warm thanks also goes to employers who, in the spirit of fair play, inform workers about the app and fair terms of employment in their industry.” ? Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 41 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 41 7.8.2024 14.15 7.8.2024 14.15
• 42 Tekijä 7-8/2024 WHAT MEMBERS SAY + LUE JUTTU SUOMEKSI www.tekijalehti.fi/liitossa A friend's advice to join the union matters Joining the union is easier when a coworker or a familiar shop steward recommends it. Personal contacts are important, and doubly so for immigrants. Climbing over the language barrier is worth it. M any employees with foreign background don’t speak Finnish well and spend most of their time outside work with people who speak their language. Their knowledge of Finnish society and working life may be scarce, so information about the important work done by the Industrial Union may not reach them through “official channels”. And even if it does, they may have doubts about the benefits of joining — after all, membership costs money. The language barrier raises the bar for joining a union and especially for applying for positions of trust. TEXT MIKKO NIKULA PHOTOS ANTTI HYVÄRINEN AND THE INDUSTRIAL UNION A large majority of employees at my workplace are foreigners, but only about one in three have joined the Industrial Union. Overall, there are a lot of foreigners in the horticulture industry. Many are seasonal workers, which further reduces motivation to join the union. It’s easier to become a member if you have friends with positive experiences of the union. Back when I joined the union, I did so at the recommendation of a Ukrainian coworker. Today, I’m the chief shop steward and occupational safety representative. I’ve also served as a representative at the Union Congress and attended many courses at the Murikka Institute. I try to make sure that employees look at their payslips and check that everything is paid correctly. The language barrier is a major reason why it is hard to get people of foreign background to join the union. It’d be good to have materials available in many languages that we could hand out to people directly. To some degree, these wishes have been met, and I understand that the matter is a question of resources for the union. Still, we should strive to find ways to make it easier to access information. The fact that the collective agreement is available in Finnish helps greatly. Many people could also be interested in study opportunities and courses offered by the union, but nearly all are in Finnish and seasonal workers may not have the time for them. While I have not faced discrimination at work, it would be easier to get things done as a Finnish speaker. It’s hard to say how to get more foreigners to apply to positions of trust. Recently, a course for shop stewards was held in English for the first time at Murikka Institute, which I was really happy to see.” YULIA BIELOKRYNYTSKA Seinäjoen Puutarha Oy Greenhouse worker Seinäjoki Information in different languages is needed more than ever” “I’m from Ukraine and moved to Finland just over five years ago, before Russia attacked and the war began. I hope that the war will end and I can return to my home country. Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 42 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 42 7.8.2024 14.15 7.8.2024 14.15
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 43 UNION It’s worth talking about the benefits of the union even on free time” “Some coworkers have asked me why I give a part of my pay to the union, saying that the money is wasted and that there’s no need for unions. I see the membership as a form of insurance. The membership subscription is not that high, and the union gives me support when I need it. I have also received assistance in dealing with the employment authorities when I was unemployed. I started as a temp agency worker at ABB last year. I would prefer to be employed directly. That way, I would get better pay and my employment would be more secure. Previously, I worked at Valmet Automotive in Uusikaupunki as a direct employee. There, I joined the Industrial Union when my department’s shop steward told me about the union. I probably wouldn’t have joined otherwise. It is a good idea to talk about the benefits of the union to those who are not members, including outside work and on free time, such as in the sauna or on a picnic. Many people believe their friends’ and acquaintances’ word more readily than strangers. I have a great deal of love for Finland. I’m from Nigeria and moved here in 2008. I initially lived with a Finnish family in Valkeakoski and learned a lot from them about the Finnish way of life. Admittedly, there's a lot of racism here. For example, I’ve been called the N-word at a shopping centre. I stayed calm and told the man thank you very much, which made him furious. A woman went to tell the security guard, and the man was escorted out. Even in working life, some managers treat immigrants worse than Finnish employees. The best things about Finland are the peace and quiet and the fact that not everything revolves around money. It's also safe here. There is no gap between the rich and the poor as in many other countries, such as the United States or the United Kingdom.” Conversations with shop stewards are important” TRAN VAN BINH Elevator assembler KONE Industrial Oy Elevator factory Hyvinkää OLUSOLA ADEKOYA Barona Teollisuus Oy / ABB Oy Drives Pitäjänmäki Assembly worker Helsinki “I’ve worked at Kone for 35 years, almost the entire time I’ve lived in Finland. My family and I left Vietnam as refugees, traveling through Cambodia to Thailand, where we stayed in a refugee camp. I had a wife and a newborn son. After that, we came to Finland. The year was 1988. This has been a good country to live and work in. I attended a Finnish language course but didn’t learn much. After a year, I started work at Kone, which is where I began to learn Finnish for the first time. If I didn’t know what a word meant, I’d always ask my coworkers. Sometimes, I’ve been told unpleasant things because of my immigrant background. But such incidents are rare. Finns are usually friendly and offer help when you ask for advice. But when someone is a racist, I feel that other Finns often stay silent. I joined the Metalworkers’ Union right away in 1989 because I thought it was mandatory for employees. Later, I came to understand the benefits of the union after speaking with shop stewards. Such conversations are very important to foreigners. Better than watching the news, they help you understand what is going on in the workplace and society as a whole. Written Finnish is difficult, but the spoken language is easier. If there’s a problem of any kind, you can go and take it up with the shop steward. But if there is no shop steward in the workplace, foreigners may feel that it isn’t worth it to join a union. Many people find the idea of calling the union yourself to resolve an issue difficult. I’ve been involved in the local branch in Hyvinkää and stood as a candidate in the Union Congress elections. But I felt that I don’t speak Finnish well enough to talk about complex topics. Perhaps the union could organise Finnish courses if there’s a desire to get more people of immigrant background in positions of trust.” ? Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 43 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 43 7.8.2024 14.15 7.8.2024 14.15
• 44 Tekijä 7-8/2024 HERMES “Get the Hermes app, join the union and know your rights ” Members of foreign background feel that the Industrial Union’s Hermes app makes life easier in a new country, especially early on. The app and the Industrial Union’s website contain information in nine languages. TEXT ANTTI HYVÄRINEN PHOTOS JYRKI LUUKKONEN AND SERGEI UNUKAINEN T he Industrial Union’s “Teollisuusliiton Hermes” app provides up-to-date information about working and living in Finland. The mobile app is available in Finnish, Swedish, English, Ukrainian, Russian, Vietnamese, Romanian, Polish and Estonian. Union member Micha? Kulka-Kowalczyk and his family moved from Poland to Finland in late 2021. He estimates that moving and settling in a new country would have gone faster if he’d had the Hermes app to rely on. “It is great that the Industrial Union is open to workers of foreign backgrounds and the union’s website and Hermes app are available in many languages,” says Kulka-Kowalczyk. Kulka-Kowalczyk, who works in newspaper delivery at Lounais-Suomen Tietojakelu Oy in Turku, says that he joined the union on his own initiative. Delivery workers work alone and rarely see coworkers or shop stewards. “I might have joined the union earlier if I hadn’t had to put in so much time to look for and translating information,” says Kulka-Kowalczyk. He joined the largest trade union in Finland in late 2023, at a time when the Industrial Union and other trade unions stood in opposition to the government's anti-worker policies. “I saw the strikes and the Serious Grounds campaign. I wanted to get involved and strengthen the movement.” Kulka-Kowalczyk sees it as a positive that trade unions have a strong position in society. In Poland, the trade union movement is weaker than in Finland. “It warms my heart that the trade union movement in Finland is strong, and people are committed to defending their rights.” Kulka-Kowalczyk, who has participated in training offered by the Industrial Union, sees membership in a trade union as a good way to integrate to a new country. He gives advice to immigrants: “Get the Hermes app, join the union and know your rights. This way, you’re not alone and can make your voice heard.” SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT HERMES The Industrial Union’s Hermes app currently has information on the terms of employment, including wages, hours and holidays, in five collective agreement sectors. The sectors are technology, forestry, agriculture, horticulture and tree nurseries. The plan is that eventually, the terms of employment of all of the Industrial Union’s agreement sectors can be found in the app. Georgi Liiva, a member of the Industrial Union, moved from Estonia to Finland in late 2022. Liiva, who has previously worked temporary jobs in Finland, has settled in Kotka to work in the technology sector. Moving to a new country requires taking care of all kinds of paperwork and contacting different places. The Hermes app has a lot of information and links to more resources. “If I’d had used the Hermes app, everything would have gone faster,” Liiva says. Labour market systems and the role of trade unions vary from country to country. Immigrants may find it hard getting to know the practices in the new country. “There are trade unions in Estonia, too, but they don’t support members in the way Finnish unions do.” Liiva joined the Industrial Union following his friends’ recommendation. “I feel more secure this way and I’m able to get support from the union if I have any questions.” He has received help from the union in matters related to wages, among other matters. Liiva has participated in LA TA A TE O LL IS UU SLI ITON HER M ES -S O V EL LU S! DO W N LO A D TH E TE OLL ISUUSLI ITO N H ER M ES AP P! Learn more and get the app: www.teollisuusliitto.fi/ hermes Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 44 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 44 7.8.2024 14.15 7.8.2024 14.15
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 45 training offered by the union and in activities organised by his local branch. “Only Finnish is spoken at meetings in my local branch. The secretary has tried to explain things to me in English.” Liiva is learning Finnish, but hopes that local branches could also use English and spread the word about the Hermes app in workplaces. A SOFTER LANDING IN A NEW COUNTRY Information in the Industrial Union’s Hermes app can be accessed without an internet connection, and the app does not collect data about users. The app is free and can be downloaded from most common app stores. Sergei Unukainen, who moved from Estonia to Finland more than five years ago, says that the Hermes app has made it easier to help others with a foreign background. “I know a lot of foreigners who don’t speak Finnish and have helped a few people. The app is very useful in that you can look up information in many different languages,” Unukainen says. Unukainen, who speaks Finnish, has put in the effort to learn the language. “All my friends are Finnish. You can learn the language quickly when you hear it every day and attend courses.” In Unukainen’s case, his settling into Finland was made easier by support from his employer. The car plant in Uusikaupunki ran a hiring campaign that included support for finding a home and arranging daycare for children. In the absence of such support, finding the information from different sources takes a great deal of effort. “The Hermes app makes life easier during the first few months in the country.” Unukainen, who currently works at Aurajoki Oy’s factory in Turku, believes that supporting immigrants start a life and find work in Finland is in everyone’s interests, as there is a shortage of skilled industrial workers. “There are many professionals coming to Finland with good training and experience, but are unable to find work. It’s important to support them in the integration process.” ? Sergei Unukainen from Turku has helped other foreigners settle into Finland. Georgi Liiva and Micha? Kulka-Kowalczyk participated in an English-language course organised by the Industrial Union at Murikka Institute in May. + LUE JUTTU SUOMEKSI www.tekijalehti.fi/liitossa READ THE ARTICLE IN NINE LANGUAGES www.tekijalehti.fi/ in-english >> S ER GE I UN U KA IN EN JY RK I LU U KK O N EN UNION Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 45 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 45 7.8.2024 14.15 7.8.2024 14.15
• Suomi FI Ajantasaista tietoa Suomessa työskentelystä ja elämisestä Lataa ainutlaatuinen sovellus ja pysy kärryillä oikeuksistasi ja velvollisuuksistasi! LA TA A TE O LL IS UU SLI ITON HER M ES -S O V EL LU S! Ruotsi SE Aktuell informat ion om att bo och arbeta i Finland Ladda ner den unika appen och håll koll på dina rättighet er och skyldigh eter! LA DD A N ED A PP TE OLLISUUSLIIT O N H ER M ES ! Englanti EN Up-to-d ate informatio n on working and living in Finland Downloa d the unique app and stay informed about your rights and responsib ilities! D O W N LO A D TH E T E O LLIS UUS LIIT O N H ER M E S APP ! Romania RO Informa?ii actualizate privind munca ?i traiul în Finlanda Desc?rca?i aplica?ia unic? ?i r?mâne?i la curent cu drepturile ?i obliga?iile dumneavoastr? ! DE SC ? R C A ?I A PL IC A?IA TEOLL ISU U SL IIT O N H ER MES ! Vietnam VN Thông tin phô? biê?n vê? sô?ng va? la?m viê?c t?i Ph?n Lan Ha?y t?i ?ng d?ng ??c ?áo và tham kh?o các quy?n và ngh?a v? c?a b?n! H A Y T ? I ? N G D ? N G T EO L LISUU SL I I TO N H E R M ES! Viro EE Ajakohane teave töötamise ja elamise kohta Soomes Laadi alla ainulaadne rakendus ja ole oma õiguste ja kohustustega kursis! LA A DI A LL A TE O LL I S U U SL IIT O N H ER M E S -R A KE ND U S! Puola PL Aktualne informacje na temat pracy i ?ycia w Finlandii Pobierz wyj?tkow? aplikacj? i b?d? na bie??co ze swoimi prawami i obowi?zkami! PO BI ER Z A P LI K AC J? TEOLLISUU SL IIT O N H ER ME S! Ukraina UA ????????? ?????????? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ? ????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????? ? ?????? ? ????? ????? ???? ? ????’?????! ?? ?? ? ?? ? ? ? ? ?? ?? «TEOLLIS UU SL IIT O N H ER M ES» ! Venäjä RU ?????????? ?????????? ? ?????? ? ????? ? ????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ? ?????? ? ????? ????? ???? ? ??????????? ?! ? ? ?? ? ?? ?? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? ?? «TE O L LI SU U S L II T O N H ER M E S»! Tekijä_7-8_2024_Hermes.indd 1 Tekijä_7-8_2024_Hermes.indd 1 6/28/2024 2:37:15 PM 6/28/2024 2:37:15 PM Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 46 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 46 7.8.2024 14.15 7.8.2024 14.15
• Suomi FI Ajantasaista tietoa Suomessa työskentelystä ja elämisestä Lataa ainutlaatuinen sovellus ja pysy kärryillä oikeuksistasi ja velvollisuuksistasi! LA TA A TE O LL IS UU SLI ITON HER M ES -S O V EL LU S! Ruotsi SE Aktuell informat ion om att bo och arbeta i Finland Ladda ner den unika appen och håll koll på dina rättighet er och skyldigh eter! LA DD A N ED A PP TE OLLISUUSLIIT O N H ER M ES ! Englanti EN Up-to-d ate informatio n on working and living in Finland Downloa d the unique app and stay informed about your rights and responsib ilities! D O W N LO A D TH E T E O LLIS UUS LIIT O N H ER M E S APP ! Romania RO Informa?ii actualizate privind munca ?i traiul în Finlanda Desc?rca?i aplica?ia unic? ?i r?mâne?i la curent cu drepturile ?i obliga?iile dumneavoastr? ! DE SC ? R C A ?I A PL IC A?IA TEOLL ISU U SL IIT O N H ER MES ! Vietnam VN Thông tin phô? biê?n vê? sô?ng va? la?m viê?c t?i Ph?n Lan Ha?y t?i ?ng d?ng ??c ?áo và tham kh?o các quy?n và ngh?a v? c?a b?n! H A Y T ? I ? N G D ? N G T EO L LISUU SL I I TO N H E R M ES! Viro EE Ajakohane teave töötamise ja elamise kohta Soomes Laadi alla ainulaadne rakendus ja ole oma õiguste ja kohustustega kursis! LA A DI A LL A TE O LL I S U U SL IIT O N H ER M E S -R A KE ND U S! Puola PL Aktualne informacje na temat pracy i ?ycia w Finlandii Pobierz wyj?tkow? aplikacj? i b?d? na bie??co ze swoimi prawami i obowi?zkami! PO BI ER Z A P LI K AC J? TEOLLISUU SL IIT O N H ER ME S! Ukraina UA ????????? ?????????? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ? ????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????? ? ?????? ? ????? ????? ???? ? ????’?????! ?? ?? ? ?? ? ? ? ? ?? ?? «TEOLLIS UU SL IIT O N H ER M ES» ! Venäjä RU ?????????? ?????????? ? ?????? ? ????? ? ????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ? ?????? ? ????? ????? ???? ? ??????????? ?! ? ? ?? ? ?? ?? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? ?? «TE O L LI SU U S L II T O N H ER M E S»! Tekijä_7-8_2024_Hermes.indd 1 Tekijä_7-8_2024_Hermes.indd 1 6/28/2024 2:37:15 PM 6/28/2024 2:37:15 PM Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 47 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 47 7.8.2024 14.16 7.8.2024 14.16
• 48 Tekijä 7-8/2024 Help and support for all members M ost unclear situations that arise during an employment relationship can be settled amicably. We recommend that the worker first contact their supervisor and, if necessary, seek advice and support from the workplace’s shop steward or the Industrial Union’s experts. In the initial phase of a dispute, the union can provide advice. It is also common for unresolved disputes in the workplace to be settled out of court once the demands are presented in writing with the support of the union. “It pays to be open to a possible settlement, because seeing a dispute all the way to its end takes years and can take a surprising toll mentally,” says Susanna Holmberg, Interim Manager of the Industrial Union’s Legal Department. If no settlement is reached and the member wants the union to take care of the case, the member must give written consent by power of attorney and submit a legal aid request to the union for assessment. DISMISSAL AND WAGES COMMON CAUSES FOR DISPUTE Members may receive assistance from the union for managing legal matters arising from the employment relationship or the member’s activities in the union and the local branch. Legal aid can also be provided in claims for damages for workplace accidents and occupational illnesses. The decision whether to pursue a case is made at the discretion of the union’s Legal Department. In practice, this means investigating whether the evidence is sufficient and whether there are grounds to present the claim in court. In order for legal aid to be granted, the employer must have acted in violation of the law or a collective agreement or other agreement. The decision whether to grant aid is always based on legal factors and the In the event of problems in the workplace, members of the Industrial Union can turn to the union for assistance. The shop steward and the union’s experts can offer advice. If necessary, the union will represent the member in court. According to Susanna Holmberg, Interim Manager of the Legal Department, it’s advisable to contact the union early as disputes related to employment relationships have a statute of limitations. TU U KK A RA N TA LA ADVOCACY Compiled by Antti Hyvärinen + LUE JUTTU SUOMEKSI www.tekijalehti.fi/liitossa READ THE ARTICLE IN NINE LANGUAGES www.tekijalehti.fi/ in-english Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 48 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 48 7.8.2024 14.16 7.8.2024 14.16
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 49 member’s interests, which means that aid is granted if the case is believed to have any chances of success. “The conditions for granting legal aid are defined in the rules of the union and followed by the Legal Department when assessing legal aid,” Holmberg says. GOING TO COURT TAKES TIME AND MONEY Without the union's legal aid, taking a dispute to court is a huge financial risk to the employee. The costs of taking a typical employment dispute into court are often in the tens of thousands of euros. In practice, the financial risk posed by enormous legal costs makes it impossible to take a case against the employer to court if the worker is not a member of a union. “The union’s legal aid covers all legal costs, including the other party’s legal fees in the event that the case is lost. In other words, the member does not need to pay any legal fees from the case,” Holmberg says. Besides money, court cases also take time. It is more a rule than exception that court cases are appealed to the Court of Appeals. As a rule, members should be prepared for the legal process to take at least two years. CREDIBLE AND COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL AID Questions that concern the interpretation of collective agreements are mainly settled in Labour Court if the employer is a member of the employers’ organisation or the employment relationship is governed by a company-specific collective agreement. For non-unionised employers, the case is taken to the district court, which may request a statement from the Labour Court. From the employee’s perspective, access to credible and comprehensive legal aid is important, and the union’s aid also acts as a deterrent. Employers are motivated to comply with laws and agreements when they know that violations will be addressed with the trade union’s support. ? We are the union >> Industrial Union is Finland’s largest trade union and monitors the interests of its members at workplaces, nationwide and internationally. ADVOCACY WORK The Industrial Union has around 200,000 members, of whom 76% are men and 24% women. Our members work in 35 industries covered by collective agreements. The union’s mission is to promote the rights and well-being of workers. Collective agreements negotiated by the union define the basis for pay, minimum wages and other terms of employment relationships. The goal of advocacy work by the Industrial Union is to improve our members’ livelihoods, employment and purchasing power. Another aim is to protect fair terms of employment, a safe working environment and fair treatment of workers in the union’s collective agreement sectors. Collective bargaining activities in the Industrial Union are divided into the chemical, technology and wood product sectors. UNIONISATION The goal of the union’s activities is to bring together workers and students of collective agreement sectors under a single cooperation and advocacy organisation. The union’s ability to negotiate and represent members’ interests is based on its strength and credibility in workplaces and local branches, locally and nationwide. Unionisation is at the heart of the union, and the key to unionisation are active members. The idea of unionisation is to bring workers together to improve their workplace by organising and electing shop stewards and occupational safety representatives. UNION
• 50 Tekijä 7-8/2024 ADVOCACY Compiled by Antti Hyvärinen REGIONS Local activities of the Industrial Union are organised into seven regions of operation, each served by a regional centre. The focus of regional activities is on issues related to representing members’ interests and the union’s work. Members and union representatives receive advice and support on issues related to terms of employment and the work environment. The union also supports local branches in the development of activities. A wide range of training courses and events for different target groups are organised in the union’s regions. PUBLIC AFFAIRS The Industrial Union’s public affairs work is aimed at influencing political and official decision-making, the media and public opinion. Public affairs work also includes lobbying, which can be used to influence decisions in the early stages of their preparations to significantly influence the end result. The goal of the union’s industrial policy advocacy is to maintain the competitiveness of Finnish industries. RESEARCH The Research Unit of the Industrial Union produces up-to-date research data on the economy, working life and member for the union’s needs. All research done by the unit is driven by members’ interests and aimed at producing data that is relevant to members. Besides producing researched data, the unit assists shop stewards, the union’s management, experts from the union’s other units and the Open Unemployment Fund. The research unit has expertise in themes related to economics, corporate finance, labour markets and the working life as well as in statistical analysis, surveys and interviews. The research unit supports shop stewards by investigating the financial position of employer companies and by assisting with local agreements. INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES The Industrial Union’s International Unit protects and promotes the position of industrial workers in domestic and international labour markets. International advocacy work contributes to the enforcement of the ILO’s fundamental rights at work and the building and strengthening of democratic and economically sustainable trade unions in developing countries and emerging economies. The union also participates in the global oversight of multinational companies. International advocacy work can be divided into two elements: advocacy activities at the European level and global advocacy work. The International Unit also monitors the operating conditions of industrial companies in Finland. TRAINING AND EDUCATION Training and education activities by the Industrial Union include trade union training and advocacy work related to vocational education. The aim of training offered by the union is to produce expertise for the needs of the union's shop stewards, occupational safety representatives, active members of local branches and all members in general. The Industrial Union provides trade union training at the union's Murikka Institute in Tampere and at Murikka’s branch facility in Helsinki. The Union also hosts national weekend-long training courses and shorter regional courses based on the needs of the union's regions. In addition to traditional face-to-face training, the union also organises online courses. The goal of education-related advocacy work is to ensure high-quality study opportunities in vocational education and training at different stages of members' careers. MEMBER BENEFITS If you work or study in an industry represented by the Industrial Union, VE SA -M AT TI VÄ Ä RÄ Weijia Zhang, Gianina Dumitru and Punam participated in the You have rights course in April 2024 in Uusikaupunki. Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 50 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 50 7.8.2024 14.16 7.8.2024 14.16
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 51 Legal case joining the union is a good idea. In 2024, the membership subscription is 1% of taxable salary. Members belong to one of the Industrial Union’s about 450 local branches. In practice, new members join the Industrial Union local branch representing their workplace, local area or profession. The Industrial Union has insured its members against unemployment in the Open Unemployment Fund A-kassa. In the event of unemployment, members can apply for earnings-related unemployment allowance and other benefits from Illegal termination leads to nearly €23,000 in damages THE CASE A member of the Industrial Union was laid off during the pandemic in the spring of 2020. The layoff was continued over the summer of 2020, after which the employment was terminated on production-related and financial grounds. While this was going on, the employer had hired at least three new employees for fixed-term positions. According to the law, the employer does not have grounds for termination if new employees have been hired for similar tasks as those performed by the dismissed employee before or after the termination, and there has been no change in the employer's operating conditions. A fixed-term employee whose employment is extended is also considered to be a new employee in the eyes of the law. The company should have offered fixed-term work to the union member in a permanent employment relationship before terminating the employment and extending the fixed-term contracts. When considering termination, the employer must offer alternative duties in such a way that the employee understands that refusing the alternative duties means that the employment may be terminated. The employer had not offered the member alternative duties. The employer had offered the member a position as a driver after the termination, but according to the district court, this was irrelevant as the work must be offered before the termination of employment. The employer claimed that it did not need to offer alternative duties due to the member’s health. According to the district court, the medical statements and notes from discussions with occupational health care presented by the employer were at least seven years old and not sufficient proof that the member was unable to perform the available duties at the time of termination. DECISION The district court found that because no work was offered to the member during the layoff or before the termination, both the layoff and the termination were illegitimate. The district court considered a reasonable compensation for the illegitimate termination of employment to be equivalent to 10 months' wages, or 22,839.30 euros. In addition, the employer was ordered to pay nearly the full amount of the legal costs of the Industrial Union member. The district court's ruling remained final and was not appealed to the Court of Appeal. The lawsuit pursued by the Industrial Union was about whether a union member had been laid off and dismissed on legitimate production-related and financial grounds. the unemployment fund. Extensive member benefits include collective agreements and support by the union’s organisation, as well as a wide range of deals and discounts and the member calendar and printed member magazine Tekijä . ? + LEARN MORE You can read about the Industrial Union’s efforts to improve work environments on page 34. IS TO CK § UNION Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 51 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 51 7.8.2024 14.16 7.8.2024 14.16
• 52 Tekijä 7-8/2024 All members of the Industrial Union have the right to training. Education in English Training courses at Murikka Institute are available to all members of the Industrial Union and are covered by the Study Leave Act. Get compensation on the loss of earnings. If your employer allows you to be absent from work in order to study and that will cause you loss of earnings, the Industrial Union will cover it by paying a tax-free training allowance and a training scholarship totaling €86.86/day. Participate free of charge. Once you are accepted to the training by the Industrial Union, the participation will be free of charge. Enjoy Murikka Institute. In Murikka Institute, you will stay comfortably in a hotel room with your own bathroom, air conditioning and TV. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at the restaurant. Sign up: www.teollisuusliitto.fi/en/guidance-and-training Trainings at Murikka Institute in 2024 Union news, Murikka 30th sept–2nd Oct If you already participated in The rules of working life training and want to deepen your knowledge, this training is for you! This training aims to expand the student’s knowledge of working life matters and examine current trade union issues. Basic course for Shop Stewards (5 days), Murikka 7th–11th Oct In this course, we will familiarize ourselves with the duties of a Shop Steward, the legal sources that are significant in terms of employment relationship, as well as the provisions of collective agreements. Focus group: Union members with a foreign background who are able to follow teaching in English. Focus group: Foreign shop stewards who are able to follow teaching in English. Other trainings in 2024 #thoughtworkshop – Welcome to Industrial Union, Espoo, Hotel Nuuksio 12th–13th Oct What is the purpose of the trade union movement and Industrial Union? We’ll learn about the role and tasks of the regional center. We’ll get to know the activities of the union as well as the benefits and opportunities of the members. Training includes brainstorming, coworking and networking. Focus group: New members and members who have not participated in union trainings before and are able to follow teaching in English. Working in Finland – webinar for foreign workers In this webinar we talk about the Finnish working life and habits. The webinar recording is available at teollisuusliitto.duunivalmennus.com Focus group: All members. Trainings of Union local branches The Industrial Union local branches may order union education locally. Education is available in English, Swedish and Russian. Please ask for more information: koulutus@teollisuusliitto.fi Focus group: Members of Union local branches. Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 52 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 52 7.8.2024 14.16 7.8.2024 14.16
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 53 “Don’t be afraid to speak English ” be afraid to speak English. I also had a long break when I didn’t speak English at all, but when I started using the language more, the basics learnt in school started to come back to me. If you’re wondering about the meaning of a word and you don’t know the answer, then instead of trying to make something up, go on the computer to check that you’re using the right word correctly. That will save you from quite a few problems. If possible, always check the automatic translations made with Google’s translator. One time, I translated a text in Russian and asked my colleague Oksana if she could check the translation. I got the text back full of red ink and question marks. We then went over the text together one line at a time. In a crisis, the importance of being able to communicate and understand each other is even greater. For example, applications for strike subsidies during the strike and earnings-related unemployment allowance during layoffs have taken up a lot of resources. The union is fairly well aware of the languages spoken in different workplaces. That’s why it would be smart to share information in other languages spoken by members, too, instead of only in Finnish, Swedish and English.” ? The number of languages used at workplaces has increased significantly, says Jari Berg, chief shop steward and occupational safety representative at Skaala IFN Oy. PROFILE TEXT JOHANNES WARIS PHOTO JOHANNES TERVO “W hen I started working at the factory just under twenty years ago, you could really only hear Finnish and Estonian here with a bit of Russian thrown in. Today, the number of languages spoken is much higher. The situation in Ukraine is evident by the fact that Ukrainian refugees have come to work here. The single largest group is probably Romanians. Just recently, for example, six Romanians were hired as production workers. Most of them have joined the Industrial Union. I think it’s a good thing that the employer has began to arrange Finnish language courses in cooperation with education provider Sedu. The training focuses on the vocabulary required in our work. The teachers come to the factory, allowing us to hold the voluntary training at work during working hours. The course was popular, and more such training will be organised in the future. It would be very helpful as a shop steward to speak five or six languages. So far, I’ve managed with Finnish, English and some kind of sign language. In fact, some of our foreign employees are more fluent in Finnish than English. Recently, I went to tell two Burmese employees about the union in English, but they responded by saying they understand Finnish better. Still, the fact is that English is usually the first common language in the workplace and you shouldn’t + LUE JUTTU SUOMEKSI www.tekijalehti.fi/liitossa JARI BERG Chief shop steward and occupational safety representative Skaala IFN Oy Kauhava All members of the Industrial Union have the right to training. Education in English Training courses at Murikka Institute are available to all members of the Industrial Union and are covered by the Study Leave Act. Get compensation on the loss of earnings. If your employer allows you to be absent from work in order to study and that will cause you loss of earnings, the Industrial Union will cover it by paying a tax-free training allowance and a training scholarship totaling €86.86/day. Participate free of charge. Once you are accepted to the training by the Industrial Union, the participation will be free of charge. Enjoy Murikka Institute. In Murikka Institute, you will stay comfortably in a hotel room with your own bathroom, air conditioning and TV. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at the restaurant. Sign up: www.teollisuusliitto.fi/en/guidance-and-training Trainings at Murikka Institute in 2024 Union news, Murikka 30th sept–2nd Oct If you already participated in The rules of working life training and want to deepen your knowledge, this training is for you! This training aims to expand the student’s knowledge of working life matters and examine current trade union issues. Basic course for Shop Stewards (5 days), Murikka 7th–11th Oct In this course, we will familiarize ourselves with the duties of a Shop Steward, the legal sources that are significant in terms of employment relationship, as well as the provisions of collective agreements. Focus group: Union members with a foreign background who are able to follow teaching in English. Focus group: Foreign shop stewards who are able to follow teaching in English. Other trainings in 2024 #thoughtworkshop – Welcome to Industrial Union, Espoo, Hotel Nuuksio 12th–13th Oct What is the purpose of the trade union movement and Industrial Union? We’ll learn about the role and tasks of the regional center. We’ll get to know the activities of the union as well as the benefits and opportunities of the members. Training includes brainstorming, coworking and networking. Focus group: New members and members who have not participated in union trainings before and are able to follow teaching in English. Working in Finland – webinar for foreign workers In this webinar we talk about the Finnish working life and habits. The webinar recording is available at teollisuusliitto.duunivalmennus.com Focus group: All members. Trainings of Union local branches The Industrial Union local branches may order union education locally. Education is available in English, Swedish and Russian. Please ask for more information: koulutus@teollisuusliitto.fi Focus group: Members of Union local branches. UNION Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 53 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 53 7.8.2024 14.16 7.8.2024 14.16
• Safety 50 high Haixin laajan turvakenkävalikoiman ehdoton ykkönen. S3-luokan kevyt ja mukava turvajalkine monipuoliseen käyttöön. Tiedustelut maahantuojalta: info@cpe.? Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 54 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 54 7.8.2024 14.16 7.8.2024 14.16
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 55 WORLD TU U KK A RA N TA LA Finland falls in rankings LABOUR RIGHTS The Orpo-Purra government has announced its intention to introduce measures that seek to reduce Finland’s pull factors for immigrants. These policies will naturally weaken the social and unemployment security of all Finns. The government has been particularly successful in weakening workers’ rights. This year, Finland was the only Nordic country to drop out of the group of best countries in the world for workers. The comparison is published by the International Trade Union Confederation ITUC. The 11th annual ITUC Global Rights Index report was published in June. The ITUC ranks the world’s countries into five rating groups based on the realisation of labour rights in practice. Previously, Finland has always been in the top rating group. Otherwise, the group of best countries in the world remained unchanged. In addition to the four Nordic countries, it includes Italy, Ireland, Austria and Germany. In its new rating group, Finland is accompanied by 21 countries, including Ghana, Malawi and Moldova. Finland is the only country among the top two groups to deteriorate in its rating. The ITUC collects data about violations of trade union and labour rights around the world. For the report, the data is compared to the 97 rights enshrined in international conventions. Businesses and governments around the world are infringing on trade union and labour rights at an accelerating pace. The right to strike was violated in nine out of ten and the right to collective bargaining in eight out of ten countries. Trade unionists were arrested or imprisoned in nearly half of the countries. Russia’s war in Ukraine and Israel’s extensive devastation in Gaza and tightening occupation in the West Bank have further deteriorated rights in all of the four countries involved. The ten worst countries in the world for workers are Bangladesh, Ecuador, Egypt, Eswatini, the Philippines, Guatemala, Myanmar, Tunisia, Turkey and Belarus. Twelve countries in which the rule of law has broken down, including Haiti, Libya and Syria, are grouped in a separate category below the five rating groups. ? Compiled by Heikki Jokinen Political strike in Nigeria POLITICAL STRIKES Unlike in Finland, prolonged political strikes are legal in Nigeria. In June, two of the country's central labour organisations started a political strike without a stated end date. Their demand was increasing the minimum wage by more than the 60,000 naira (€37) offered by the government. However, the unions ended the strike quickly to allow negotiations to begin. Vanguard , a Nigerian newspaper reporting on the strike, writes that violations of workers’ rights are still commonplace in Nigeria. In the recent ITUC Global Rights Index report on labour rights around the world, Nigeria was one of the countries to drop its rating. One step back THE UNITED STATES The United Auto Workers union failed to gain the support of the majority of employees at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama. Unionisation was opposed by 56% of the 4,200 workers who voted. The election result came after an extensive campaign waged by the company against the labour union. Employees were required to attend presentations and watch videos describing the dangers of unionisation. The company limited the union’s visibility at the plant and published extensive anti-union materials. According to UAW, the company even went as far as to fire a union activist without justification. The union has filed a complaint to the authorities in the US and Germany. Alabama law prohibits the state from handing out subsidies to companies that voluntarily recognise a new labour union without a complicated voting process. Safety 50 high Haixin laajan turvakenkävalikoiman ehdoton ykkönen. S3-luokan kevyt ja mukava turvajalkine monipuoliseen käyttöön. Tiedustelut maahantuojalta: info@cpe.? + LUE JUTTU SUOMEKSI www.tekijalehti.fi/liitossa UNION The SAK and STTK employee confederations held a mass demonstration in Helsinki Senate Square on 1 February 2024. The STOP now! demonstration was a protest against government measures that are endangering individual security and livelihoods. Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 55 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 55 7.8.2024 14.16 7.8.2024 14.16
• 56 Tekijä 7-8/2024 IN BRIEF / LYHYET LUETUIMMAT KESÄ–HEINÄKUUSSA www.tekijälehti.fi ? Epäterve kilpailu uhkaa viedä työt rehellisiltä metsäpalveluyrittäjiltä – "Ammattilainen ei enää kelpaa" ? 12 tuntia – Pitkät työvuorot ja pitkät vapaat ? Irtisanoutuminen ei muuta sääntöjä kesälläkään ? ”Kotimaista istuttajaa kannattaa käyttää” – Metsuri lyö kesätyössään jopa 1 500 tainta maahan päivässä ? BLOGI Arto Helenius: Mistä lisää työntekijöitä? JÄSENPALVELUT TIEDOTTAA www.teollisuusliitto.fi > eAsiointi Do you know your rights at work? GUIDE The website Fair Play At Work is published by the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK). On the website you can study The ABC guide to working in Finland – because understanding the ground rules of working life can help you avoid many problems. The service is part of SAK´s Employee Counselling. They provide also The SAK employee rights hotline – which advises young employees and employees of foreign origin with questions or problems concerning their employment. This free service is open to all and does not require trade union membership. Take advantage of your membership benefits ? Jäsenpalvelun puhelinpalvelu ma–pe 8.30–12.00. Palvelunumero 020 690 446. ? eAsioinnissa, www.teollisuusliitto.fi > eAsiointi, voit katsoa jäsentietojasi, merkitä jäsenmaksuvapautustietosi ja päivittää yhteystietosi, toimipaikkasi ja tilinumerosi. Ajantasaiset yhteystiedot ovat tärkeitä. Voit myös tilata mobiilijäsenkortin latauslinkin puhelimeesi. ? Huolehdi, että jäsenyytesi on kunnossa ja jäsenmaksut maksettu lomautuksen tai työttömyyden alkuun asti, näin toimien nopeutat etuuksien maksua. Jäädessäsi eläkkeelle lähetä kopio eläkepäätöksestä jäsenpalveluun. ? Vuonna 2024 jäsenmaksu on 1 % ennakonpidätyksen alaisesta palkkatulosta ja siihen rinnastettavasta tulosta. Liitto maksaa jäsenten jäsenmaksun Avoimeen työttömyyskassaan. ? Jäsenpalvelun henkilökunta toivottaa hyvää alkavaa syksyä! Oikaisuja Tekijän 6/2024 Pääjutussa haastateltu tarkastaja Aleksi Soikkeli työskentelee Etelä-Suomen aluehallintovirastossa, ei Länsija SisäSuomen aluehallintovirastossa. Tekijän 6/2024 Pulmat-palstan Taukovisan kysymyksessä 6 oikeampi vastaus olikin, että kaksi vuotta sitten Suomen etelärannikolla seikkaillut mursu menehtyi C) Kotkassa, ei D) Haminassa. Tarkasti ottaen mursu menehtyi kuljetuksen aikana matkalla Kotkasta Helsinkiin. MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS Members of the Finnish Industrial Union enjoy a wide range of union benefits, including guidance and training, settling disputes with employers, legal aid, as well as recreational and holiday activities, travel insurance and discounts for various services and commodities. See all the benefits: www.teollisuusliitto.fi/membership-benefits The hotline responds between 2 and 5 p.m. on Mondays, and between 9 and 11 a.m. and 12 and 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Advice is available in English and in Finnish. www.FairPlayAtWork.fi Telephone 0800 414 004 e-mail workinfinland@sak.fi Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 56 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 56 7.8.2024 14.16 7.8.2024 14.16
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 57 CURRENT / WORK / UNION / LEISURE Haluatko oppia lisää kestävästä kehityksestä ja tekstiilien lajittelusta? Osallistu maksuttomille verkkokursseille syksyllä 2024 Voit suorittaa myös tekstiililajittelun osaamismerkit. Lue lisää ja ilmoittaudu: tsl.fi/tyyki • Kestävä kehitys tekstiilikierrossa • Materiaalituntemus • Tekstiililajittelun perusteet Mastotyökoulutukset sisätiloissa Järjestämme putoamissuojainkoulutuksia, joissa pääset kokeilemaan suojaimia. Tavataan EuroSafety-messuilla! VANDERNET SAFETY vandernet.com/koulutus Koulutuslisää turvaa ja työtehoa! koneja metallialan koulutuksia ota yhteyttä Koulutuspäällikkö Jari Turpeinen puh. 044 7906 130, jari.turpeinen@takk.fi • Koneasennuksen ja kunnossapidon ammattitutkinto ja erikoisammattitutkinto • Tuottavuuttaa teollisuudelle • Additional Expertise for Foreign Language Speakers for the Needs of the Manufacturing Industry • Vocational Qualification in Mechanical Engineering and Production Technology, Competence area production technology, Machinist, Apprenticeship in English Lisätiedot: takk.fi/metalli Alihankintamessuilla osastolla d12 #osaajiatöihin | Tampereen Aikuiskoulutuskeskus | www.takk.fi Kiila-kuntoutusta luottamushenkilöille TYÖKYKY Kiila-kuntoutuksen tavoitteena on parantaa ja tukea työkykyä sekä edistää työelämässä pysymistä. Kuntoutuksessa käsitellään psyykkiseen, sosiaaliseen ja fyysiseen hyvinvointiin sekä työhön liittyviä asioita yksilöllisesti ja ryhmässä. Kuntoutus on tarkoitettu kaikille työssä oleville, kun työkyky on heikentynyt ja työssä suoriutumisessa on vaikeuksia. Kuntoutukseen hakeudutaan työterveyshuollon kautta. Teollisuusliitto järjestää luottamushenkilöiden kuntoutuskurssia Rokuan kuntoutuskeskuksessa. Lue lisää ja hae 20.9. mennessä: www.teollisuusliitto.fi/kiila-kuntoutusta Vielä ehdit hakea KSR:n apurahaa! APURAHAT Kansan Sivistysrahasto (KSR) tukee työväen ja työväenliikkeen sivistyksellisiä pyrkimyksiä sekä yhteiskunnallisesti painottunutta tutkimusta, taidetta, opiskelua ja kansainvälistä solidaarisuutta edistävää tiedotusja sivistystyötä. Rahaston alaisuudessa toimii oma erillinen Teollisuusliiton rahasto. Apurahan hakeminen tapahtuu sähköisesti KSR:n verkkosivujen kautta 1.–31.8. Lue lisää: www.sivistysrahasto.fi/apuraha Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 57 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 57 7.8.2024 14.16 7.8.2024 14.16
• 58 Tekijä 7-8/2024 Ny enhet vid Industrifacket ska svara på förändringen på arbetsmarknaden I ndustrifacket har grundat en avdelning som ska jobba med frågor som gäller arbetstagare med utländsk bakgrund i Finland. Avsikten är att utveckla Industrifackets förmåga att uppmärksamma medlemmar med andra modersmål än de inhemska och få dem med i fackets verksamhet. Riikka Vasama är chef för enheten. – Jag är väldigt stolt över Industrifacket för att vi har grundat enheten och att man verkligen satsar på det här arbetet. Genom det här finns vi med i förändringen som arbetslivet i Finland genomgår. På Industrifackets kongress 2023 höjdes flera röster för att den här typen av verksamhet är något som förbundet ska satsa på allvar på. – Det här är ett bra exempel på att de motioner som medlemmarna lägger fram verkligen kan göra skillnad. Riikka Vasama leder Industrifackets nya enhet för arbetskraft med utländsk bakgrund. Den nya enheten ska utveckla förbundets verksamhet i frågor som berör mångfalden i arbetslivet. TEXT TIIA KYYNÄRÄINEN FOTO ANTTI HYVÄRINEN ÖVERSÄTTNING JOHANNES WARIS ENHET Chefen för arbetsChefen för arbetskraft med utländsk kraft med utländsk bakgrund Riikka bakgrund Riikka Vasama vill utveckla Vasama vill utveckla Industrifacket mot en Industrifacket mot en riktning där alla ska riktning där alla ska känna sig välkomna känna sig välkomna i samma förbund. i samma förbund. Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 58 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 58 7.8.2024 14.16 7.8.2024 14.16
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 59 HERMES OCH UTBILDNING I FOKUS Enheten inledde sin verksamhet i början av augusti. I början ligger fokus på utvecklandet av Industrifackets Hermes-app. Mobilappen erbjuder information om arbetslivets spelregler i Finland på nio språk. – Hermes är ett konkret exempel på det arbete som vi gör. Nyligen har vi fått in info om teknologiindustrin i appen, men våra övriga avtalsbranscher följer efter, berättar Vasama. – Appen är ett verktyg för våra förtroendevalda, medlemmar och personalen på förbundet. I appen finns också information om facket på flera språk. I samband med utvecklingsarbetet gick förbundet också in för att publicera anslutningsformuläret på flera olika språk. Utbildning är också en viktig del av den nya enhetens arbete. – Vår uppgift är också att öka förståelsen för hur det finländska arbetslivet ser ut för en anställd med utländsk bakgrund. Det handlar till exempel och frågor kring arbetstillstånd och kraven i utlänningslagen. Dessutom jobbar avdelningen, precis som hela förbundet, med intressebevakning. Om en person kommer från ett land utanför EU så lever hen i Finland långt tack vare sitt arbetstillstånd. Det kan påverka personens vilja att jobba tillsammans med facket och att ta emot den hjälp som facket erbjuder i en konfliktsituation med arbetsgivaren. – Då vi hjälper, ger råd eller sköter tvister är det viktigt att vi känner till att det finns en risk i att personen kan få problem av att stå upp för sina rättigheter. Vi har redan nu flera fall av uppsägningar efter den här typen av tvister, säger Vasama. – Trots att arbetstillstånd inte gäller bara för jobb hos en viss arbetsgivare, så kan en person som inte kan språket och inte har ett nätverk i Finland kan det vara svårt att hitta ett nytt arbete. Situationen kan försvåras ytterligare om regeringens planer på att en utländsk anställd måste lämna landet inom tre månader efter att anställningen upphört blir verklighet. Enligt Vasama vill man utveckla Industrifacket i en riktning mot att alla ska rymmas i samma förbund. – Så klart jobbar vi också för att personer med annat modersmål än finska eller svenska också ska representeras i förtroendeuppdrag och i förbundets beslutsfattande organ. DET BEHÖVS MÄNNISKOR FÖR ATT SPRIDA ORDET Den finländska arbetsmarknaden har på många sätt blivit mer internationell under de senaste åren och antalet anställda som har en annan bakgrund än finländsk har ökat. Samtidigt har ändå inte fackligt medlemskap i den här gruppen ökat i samma takt. – Det handlar ofta om att de som kommit från utlandet inte känner till vår arbetsmarknad eller till exempel facket. Tvärtom, de kan ha stora fördomar mot facket, lite beroende på vilket land de härstammar från. Hermes är ett konkret exempel på vad vår enhet gör. IN SWEDISH Vasama vill understryka vikten i att information om facket och anställningsvillkoren sprids så mycket som möjligt. Här spelar Hermes-appen en viktig roll. – Jag har stora förhoppningar gällande Hermes. När användningsområdet utvidgas och appen blir kändare så hjälper den att sprida info. Styrkan i appen är ju att bara genom att trycka på en knapp kan man byta språk och erbjuda information på flera olika språk. Vasama tror också att informationen sprids bland människor. – Jag tror starkt på djungeltrumman. Min erfarenhet är att en nöjd medlem sprider ordet och på så sätt lyckas man rekrytera nya medlemmar, säger Vasama. – Det är också viktigt med samarbetet med myndigheterna. Trots att myndigheterna inte direkt kan uppmuntra någon att gå med i facket, så har de berättat om att det finns en Hermes-app. Jag vill också uttrycka ett varmt tack till de arbetsgivare som berättar om appen och anställningsvillkoren i branschen för sina anställda. ? ? 7.9 Kvinnokraft, Härmä Spa. Mer information och anmälningar: www.lyyti.in/NaisvoimaaHarma24 ? 21–22.9 #tankesmedjan – Välkommen med i facket!, Vasa ? 26–27.10 Arbetslivets verktygsback, Härmä Spa Anmäl dig via kursanmälningssystemet Telmo: teollisuusliitto.etapahtuma.fi/Kurssikalenteri/ Kurssikalenteri-SE KURSER OCH EVENEMANG Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 59 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 59 7.8.2024 14.16 7.8.2024 14.16
• 60 Tekijä 7-8/2024 PÅ JOBBET Huvudförtroendeman Jari Berg har arbetsplatsen bli alltmer flerspråkig under tjugo år. ”Det lönar sig inte att vara rädd för att prata engelska. Jag hade en lång paus under vilken jag inte använde språket nästan alls, men sen när jag väl började prata så kom det sakta tillbaka.” Våga prata, våga fråga ”N är jag själv började jobba här för knappt tjugo år sedan hörde man estniska och lite ryska på jobbet. Idag har vi betydligt fler språkgrupper representerade, berättar Jari Berg, huvudförtroendeman på Skaala IFN med runt 300 anställda. Företaget tillverkar fönster och dörrar på fabrikerna i Ylihärmä och Alahärmä i Kauhava samt Veteli. Skaala har sedan 2017 hört till den österrikiska IFN-koncernen. – Vi har märkt av kriget i Ukraina alldeles konkret genom att flera ukrainska invandrare har börjat jobba här. Berg anser att det är fint att man på Skaala gått in för att ordna frivilliga kurser i finska med fokus på yrkesspråk och uttryck som behövs i arbetet. Utbildningarna har utvecklats och genomförts i samarbete med yrkesutbildaren Sedu med bas i Seinäjoki. – Lärarna kom hit till fabriken så vi hade utbildningen här på arbetstid och behövde inte åka i väg någonstans. Kursen var populär och den kommer att få fortsättning, berättar Berg. FRÅN MARIUPOL TILL ÖSTERBOTTEN I produktionen jobbar Dmytro på för fullt med att installera fönsterglas i ramar. Han är hemma från Sumyregionen i nordöstra Ukraina och har jobbat i två år på Skaala. Dmytro har precis som många ukrainare jobbat en hel del utomlands redan innan Rysslands fullskaliga krig mot landet inleddes för drygt två och ett halvt år sedan. – Jag har jobbat i Polen, Tjeckien, Portugal och till och med Australien. När jag kom till Finland började jag jobba på en stor grisfarm, berättar han. Den tidigare veterinärassistenten trivs ändå bra med fabriksarbete. Flerspråkighet är vardag på allt fler arbetsplatser. På österbottniska Skaala har man anställt bland annat flera ukrainare som flytt kriget. TEXT JOHANNES WARIS FOTO JOHANNES TERVO Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 60 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 60 7.8.2024 14.16 7.8.2024 14.16
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 61 – Vädret påverkar inte arbetet, det är alltid rätt temperatur på jobbet, säger Dmytro. Hans föräldrar har anlänt till Finland för bara några månader sedan och bor nu med honom i Lappo. – De bodde i Donetskregionen, i Donbass, bara 30 kilometer från frontlinjen. Det är för nära. Jag bönade och bad att de skulle komma hit till mig och nu har de äntligen gjort det. Jag är glad över att de är i trygghet. Plötsligt kommer Dmytro på att hans jobbkompis har ärende till huvudförtroendemannen. Han vill gå med i Industrifacket. – Kom och ryck mig i ärmen där vid tvåtiden så fixar vi pappren i skick, svarar huvudförtroendeman Berg på engelska. Den nya medlemmen presenterar sig som Vladislav. Han har bott i Finland i ett år och hörde om arbetsmöjligheterna på Skaala via ”djungeltrumman”. – Min hemstad Mariupol är ockuperad av ryssarna. Jag kan och vill inte återvända så länge som ryska armén är där. På Skaala jobbar Vladsislav med trä men berättar att han är metallare i grunden. – De flesta i Mariupol jobbar inom stålindustrin på ett eller annat sätt, berättar Vladislav. Vladisvlavs tidigare arbetsplats, metallkonglomeratet Azovstal, förekom ofta i rubrikerna under de första månaderna av Rysslands fullskaliga anfallskrig mot Ukraina våren 2022. De sista striderna över den omringade kuststaden ägde rum på det enorma industriområdet. Bilderna från det förstörda förlossningssjukhuset i Mariupol chockerade människor världen över, liksom också bombningen av en teater där människor försökt ta skydd. Både Dmytro och Vladislav har studerat finska och gör små framsteg sakta men säkert. – Härmä är nu mitt och min familjs hem, konstaterar Vladislav. VAR INTE RÄDD FÖR ATT PRATA I många fall är engelska det första gemensamma språket i ett på flera sätt mer internationellt arbetsliv – och det är ofta också där förtroendemännen får börja. – Det lönar sig inte att vara rädd för att prata engelska. Jag hade en lång paus under vilken jag inte använde språket nästan alls, men sen när jag väl började prata så kom det sakta tillbaka, säger Jari Berg. Berg vill understryka att det är viktigt att kolla att termerna blir rätt på olika språk när man blir tillfrågad. Speciellt i krislägen blir det här viktigt. På Skaala har det gällt till exempel ansökningar om strejkbidrag för arbetsnedläggelserna under Vägande skäl-kampanjen och ansökningarna till kassan gällande inkomstrelaterad dagpenning då företaget permitterat anställda, berättar Berg. – Förbundet har ganska bra koll på vilka språkgrupper som finns olika arbetsplatser. Därför skulle det vara fiffigt att skicka info också på andra språk enligt behov, säger Berg. ? Flera ukrainare har börjat jobba på fönsterfabriken Skaala. Vladslav vill gå med i Industrifacket och huvudförtroendman Jari Berg står till tjänst. I bakgrunden Dmytro som gått med tidigare. >> IN SWEDISH Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 61 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 61 7.8.2024 14.16 7.8.2024 14.16
• Jack of all trades on the pitch ÁLVARO CORREDOR OCHOA Doctoral Researcher University of Tampere Tammisaari OFF WORK Tammisaari resident Álvaro Tammisaari resident Álvaro Corredor Ochoa serves Corredor Ochoa serves as an assistant coach for as an assistant coach for the Ekenäs IF football the Ekenäs IF football academy team. He says academy team. He says that coaching provides a that coaching provides a good counterbalance to his good counterbalance to his academic job. academic job. 62 Tekijä 7-8/2024 TEXT TIIA KYYNÄRÄINEN PHOTOS PATRIK LINDSTRÖM Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 62 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 62 7.8.2024 14.16 7.8.2024 14.16
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 63 “I do a bit of everything. In training sessions, the head coach may ask me to direct a drill or serve as the referee. During matches, I take photos and manage the team’s Instagram account, among other things. I do whatever the head coach asks from me,” says Spanish-born Álvaro Corredor Ochoa. Corredor Ochoa serves as the second assistant coach and social media manager for the men’s academy team of the Tammisaari sports club Ekenäs IF. The team plays in the men’s Kolmonen, which is the fifth highest tier in Finland. Corredor Ochoa is a true jack of all trades for the team and club. In addition to coaching, he serves as a photographer at matches, posts match information on social media and assists in media relations. At the club’s request, Corredor Ochoa has also attended refereeing courses. Corredor Ochoa finds the work of a coach to be enjoyable and varied. He says he doesn’t have enough experience and knowledge yet to be a head coach at the senior level. He has completed basic coaching courses and is just finishing the UEFA C licence course, which qualifies to coach juniors. COACHING EXPERIENCE FROM SEVERAL CLUBS Corredor Ochoa says that football has always been a part of his life, but was forced to retire from playing actively for years after suffering a knee injury at age 21. He says that coaching has been an effective way to fill the void left by football. After a successful knee operation, he has been able to rekindle his connection with the ball. Corredor Ochoa followed his wife to Finland more than a decade ago. While attending a Finnish language course, he became acquainted with another foreigner who worked as a professional football player and coach. Corredor Ochoa began assisting his friend with his coaching work. Together, they coached teams in Espoo and Kauniainen. A few summers ago, Corredor Ochoa’s family moved for his wife’s job to Tammisaari, near where she grew up. A friend in Tammisaari knew of his background as a coach and helped Ekenäs IF convince Corredor Ochoa to join the club. Initially, Corredor Ochoa served as an assistant coach for the women’s team. Last year, he became the second assistant coach for the men’s academy team. The academy team of Ekenäs IF serves as a sort of stepping stone for the first team. Most players in the academy team are under 20, and the aim is to coach them to become new players for the first team’s squad. For this season, Ekenäs IF’s first team was promoted to Finland’s highest football tier, Veikkausliiga. “Our first team hasn’t performed very well in Veikkausliiga, but our academy team has had a very good season. Right now, we’re second in our league.” HELPS RESET THOUGHTS Corredor Ochoa says that coaching provides a good counterbalance for his work as a doctoral researcher at the University of Tampere. Previously, Corredor Ochoa worked at Posti Palvelut in Olari. “Coaching helps me turn my mind to other things from time to time. My research requires a lot of thinking and focus. Coaching gives me the chance to reset my thoughts.” Corredor Ochoa is still a member of the Industrial Union and active among the union’s members of foreign background. Among other things, he still maintains an English-speaking WhatsApp group where members can discuss topics and help each other. He is also an active advocate for education, and has planned a course for the union’s nonFinnish speaking members on Finnish working life, labour rights and responsibilities as part of his university studies. Corredor Ochoa says that he has settled in Tammisaari well. The family’s home language is Swedish, and he says that he understands the language well. A frequently levelled accusation against Finland is that foreigners find it difficult to integrate into Finnish society. According to Corredor Ochoa, football or any other communal activity helps with integration a great deal. Coaching has proved beneficial even when it comes to learning the language. “Coaching is a good way to help integrate into a new society. Any kind of volunteer work works just as well.” ? You can follow the Ekenäs IF academy team on Instagram at www.instagram. com/eif_akademi. LEISURE + LUE JUTTU SUOMEKSI www.tekijalehti.fi/vapaalla “As the second assistant coach, I have a little more freedom. I don’t have to be there for everything if I can’t find the time from my other work,” says Álvaro Corredor Ochoa. Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 63 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 63 7.8.2024 14.16 7.8.2024 14.16
• 64 Tekijä 7-8/2024 Information about your unemployment insurance, A-kassa.fi A-kassa.fi | tel. 020 690 455 at Social Media @AvoinKassa If you become unemployed or you will be laid off Estimate the amount of your daily allowance » A-kassa.fi/en/ daily-allowance-calculator 1. Register with the TE Office as an unemployed jobseeker 2. Fill in the application in eService A-kassa.fi/en/eservice and send the application 3. Follow the processing of your application in eService Tietoa työttömyysturvastasi, A-kassa.fi A-kassa.fi | puh.020 690 455 Somessa @AvoinKassa Jos jäät työttömäksi tai sinut lomautetaan Voit arvioida pävärahasi määrän » A-kassa.fi/laskuri 1. Ilmoittaudu TE-toimistoon työnhakijaksi 2. Tee päivärahahakemus eAsioinnissa A-kassa.fi/eAsiointi ja lähetä hakemus 3. Seuraa hakemuksesi käsittelyä eAsioinnissa Pohjoismaiden laajin työturvallisuus tapahtuma Tule näytteilleasettajaksi, ota yhteys myyntiimme: Veli-Pekka Rouvali, p. 0207 701 212 Lue lisää: Tapahtuma on rekisteröityneille ilmainen. Tervetuloa kävijäksi, rekisteröidy tästä 10.–12.9.2024 TAMPEREEN MESSUJA URHEILUKESKUS Yhteistyössä: Suomen Työturvallisuuden liitto ry Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 64 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 64 7.8.2024 14.16 7.8.2024 14.16
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 65 Fi nn is h in du st ri es ha ve of te n ne ed ed th e se rv ic es of fo re ig n ex pe rt s. Th e m as te rs w ho w or ke d in fa ct or ie s in th e 19 th an d ea rl y 20 th ce nt ur ie s of te n ca m e fr om ab ro ad . G er m an m as te rs w or ke d at Ta m pe re en Ve rk at eh da s in Ta m pe re . Th e G er m an s or ga ni se d th ei r ow n le is ur e ac ti vi ti es by co ns tr uc ti ng a bo w lin g al le y in th e fa ct or y’ s co ur ty ar d. Th e gr ou p ph ot o is of m em be rs of D on ne rs ta gs Ke ge lKl ub , or Th ur sd ay bo w lin g cl ub . IN TH E YE A R 19 10 HISTORY Photo Finnish Labour Museum Werstas Text Marita Viinamäki / Finnish Labour Museum Werstas LEISURE Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 65 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 65 7.8.2024 14.16 7.8.2024 14.16
• 66 Tekijä 7-8/2024 7-8/2024 Tekijä 67 PUZZLES Taukovisa / Quiz Riikka Vasama is the head of which unit of the Industrial Union? A) Foreign Labour Unit B) International Unit C) Legal Department D) Educational Services What is the median monthly pay of Industrial Union members who are not Finnish or Swedish speakers? A) €2,500 B) €2,800 C) €3,100 D) €3,300 What percentage of Finland’s employed population is of foreign background? (in 2022) A) 4% B) 6% C) 9% D) 12% Which of the following is not a valid honorary title in Finnish? A) käsityöneuvos B) kalastusneuvos C) puutarhaneuvos D) urheiluneuvos Finland’s most popular candidate in this year’s European elections was Li Andersson, with 247,604 votes or about A) 8.2% B) 10.3% C) 11.8% D) 13.5% of all votes cast. Midnight sun in Utsjoki started on the 16th of May and ends on the A) 30th of June B) 15th of July C) 27th of July D) 9th of August Spiral-shaped pasta is called A) fusilli B) ravioli C) penne D) tagliatelle Which of the following countries does not have a national team in ice hockey? A) Kuwait B) Cuba C) South Africa D) Philippines How many athletes did Finland send to the Paris Olympics 2024? A) 26 B) 35 C) 46 D) 57 To what Agency does this logo belong? A) European Chemicals Agency B) Frontex C) European Environment Agency D) Eurofound 10 QUESTIONS BY MIKKO NIKULA 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Cor rec t ans wer s: A B C D D C A B D D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 So lu ti on s: w w w .t ek ija le ht i.f i/ va pa al la W W W .S A N A R IS .F I/ ER K K I V U O K IL A W W W .S A N A R IS .F I/ ER K K I V U O K IL A W W W .S A N A R IS .F I/ JU H A H Y V Ö N EN W W W .S A N A R IS .F I/ JU H A H Y V Ö N EN EASY ? MODERATE ? HARD EASY ? MODERATE ? HARD SANARISTI / WORD CROSSES Täytä sanaristin keskusta niin, että syntyy kahdeksan 8-kirjaimista sanaa / Fill in the centre of the cross to form six 7-letter words. SUDOKU In Finnish In English (It is the Eur ope an Fou nda tio n for the Im pro vem ent of Liv ing and Wor kin g Con dit ion s.) Suomeksi www .tekijalehti.fi/ vapaalla Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 66 Tekijä_2024_7-8_sisus_ok.indd 66 7.8.2024 14.17 7.8.2024 14.17
• 7-8/2024 Tekijä 67 News from the union: How to contact us Central Office EMPLOYMENT ADVICE 020 690 447 tyosuhdeneuvonta@teollisuusliitto.fi WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIAL SECURITY ADVICE 020 690 449 tyoymparisto@teollisuusliitto.fi MEMBERSHIP SERVICES 020 690 446 Mon-Fri 8:30 am – 12:00 pm jasenpalvelu@teollisuusliitto.fi www.teollisuusliitto.fi ? eService Employer and Accountant Service 020 774 1190 Mon-Fri 8:30 am – 12:00 pm tyonantajatilitykset@teollisuusliitto.fi THE INDUSTRIAL UNION PO Box 107, FI-00531 Helsinki Telephone 020 774 001 firstname.lastname@teollisuusliitto.fi In the event of unemployment, members of the Industrial Union are insured by: THE UNEMPLOYMENT FUND AVOIN TYÖTTÖMYYSKASSA PO Box 116, FI-00531 Helsinki Telephone service 020 690 455 Online service and contacts www.a-kassa.fi Regional centers at your service UUSIMAA AREA Hakaniemenranta 1, 00530 Helsinki Office Secretary 020 774 1305 SOUTHERN FINLAND AREA Aleksanterinkatu 18 A 3rd floor, 15140 Lahti (Shopping Centre Trio) Office Secretary 020 774 1362 SOUTHWESTERN FINLAND AREA Linnankatu 50, 2nd floor, 20100 Turku Office Secretary 020 774 1323 EASTERN FINLAND AREA Vuorikatu 20, 70100 Kuopio Office Secretary 020 774 1402 INNER FINLAND AREA Åkerlundinkatu 11 C, 33100 Tampere Office Secretary 020 774 1372 OSTROBOTHNIA AREA Vaasanpuistikko 15 B 28, 65100 Vaasa Office Secretary 020 774 1422 NORTHERN FINLAND AREA Mäkelininkatu 31, 4th floor, 90100 Oulu Office Secretary 020 774 1433 www.teollisuusliitto.fi/en/ industrial-union/contacts/ Union and unemployment fund service numbers Mon-Fri 8:30 am 3:00 pm Access to the regional centers by appointment only! Call and ask for more information. WWW.SANARIS.FI/ ERKKI VUOKILA AND HELI KÄRKKÄINEN EASY ? MODERATE ? HARD CROSSWORD / RISTIKKO in Finnish and in English LEISURE Tekijä_2024_7-8_kansiarkki.indd 67 Tekijä_2024_7-8_kansiarkki.indd 67 6.8.2024 13.44 6.8.2024 13.44
• HOLIDAY BONUS SHOP STEWARDS FAIR COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT SAFETY AT WORK PAY RISES EVENING AND NI GHT SHIFT ALLOWANCE PUBLIC HOLID AY COMPENSATION SHOP STEWARDS Join the Industrial Union: www.teollisuusliitto.fi/join Join the union! In Finland, the majority of employees are trade union members. Trade unions assist union members in matters related to their employment relationships. The unions provide advice and training for their members, negotiate to improve salaries and employment conditions as well as the quality of working life. Members of the Finnish Industrial Union enjoy a wide range of union benefits, including guidance and training, settling disputes with employers, legal aid, as well as recreational and holiday activities, travel insurance and discounts for various services and commodities. Union membership is the best way to keep yourself protected in working life. Tekijä_8_2024_takakansi.indd 1 Tekijä_8_2024_takakansi.indd 1 8/1/2024 10:43:08 AM 8/1/2024 10:43:08 AM Tekijä_2024_7-8_kansiarkki.indd 68 Tekijä_2024_7-8_kansiarkki.indd 68 6.8.2024 13.44 6.8.2024 13.44