WHAT IS SAK?

A trade union confederation that harmonises and develops the goals and work of its affiliated unions

➤ This work is based on the participation and solidarity of members and workers’ representatives

A specialist in working life and the labour market

A movement for social reform A dependable partner in bargaining and co-

operation

WHAT IS SAK?

In a changeable national and international operating environment SAK ensures:

➤ Conditions for affiliates to agree legally binding minimum terms and conditions of employment for their members

➤ Fundamental rights and security in the world of work

➤ Earnings-linked social security

➤ A lobbying channel for employment and social security

Competence is always in demand.

” Nowadays and always, Nowadays and always, the most important job the most important job of a trade union is to of a trade union is to defend its members’ defend its members’ interests and to oversee interests and to oversee agreements and agreements and regulations in the regulations in the bargaining sectorbargaining sector.”

MISSION

The mission of the SAK trade union movement is

to improve the welfare, living standards and democratic participation of employees and

to promote a fair and equitable society.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

1. A world of work that promotes social affluence

2. A strong consensus society

3. Full employment

4. Comprehensive social security and a high standard of welfare services

5. Strong organisational capacity

” A union must stand up for the workers and

steadfastly resist employer

manoeuvres.”

All work is worthy.

A WORLD OF WORK THAT PROMOTES SOCIAL AFFLUENCE Human rights in the world of work

➤ More and better jobs

Decent work improves productivity and quality

On-the-job learning is normal at work

Meaningful work promotes wellbeing

Flexible working hours promoting health and respecting employee needs

HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE WORLD OF WORK The right to work

The right to a wage that ensures a decent income

The right to fair and equitable treatment

The right to safe working conditions

The right to work that enhances vocational skills and to democratic channels of influence at work

The right to organise in trade unions, the right to free collective bargaining and the right to strike

AIMING FOR FULL EMPLOYMENT A better employment situation must be the

main aim of economic and taxation policy

Effective, high standard employment policy

Vocational qualifications for all

A universal right to freedom from discrimination at work

The keys to growth in business policy

””I want a union that I want a union that takes care of our takes care of our terms of terms of employment, and employment, and stands firm over stands firm over safety at work”safety at work”

A STRONG CONSENSUS SOCIETY Principle of solidarity – joint action by trade

unions

Pay settlements must improve purchasing power

Labour legislation must guarantee basic rights at work

SAK is actively involved in the work of the European trade union movement

SECURITY AND SERVICES

Improved coverage of social security

Public employment services must be enhanced

Safeguards for the level and financing of earnings-related pensions

A sustainable policy for prolonging working careers

Flexibility in family leave

Reduced health disparities

1907 SAK established

1917 Finland becomes independent, 8-hour working day

1922 Employment Contracts Act, 4 – 7 days of annual holiday

1930s National Pension Act, 5 – 12 days of annual holiday

1940s Collective bargaining system, workers’ representative system, Labour Court, child benefit

1950s General strike, 45-hour working week

1960s Employment pension system, Sickness Insurance Act, 40-hour / 5-day working week,

annual holiday pay agreement, first incomes policy agreement (Liinamaa I)

1970s Minimum wage, holiday return bonus, 7-month maternity leave, winter holiday, Occupational

Health Care Act, Act on Co-operation within Undertakings

1980s Study Leave Act, Act on Equality between Women and Men, parental and child care leave

1990s Improved conditions in casual employment, annual holiday bank, Working Hours Act

2000s 4-hour minimum working time, pension reform, subscriber liability for outsourced labour, revised

Act on Co-operation within Undertakings, reform of the Annual Holidays Act and the Act on Equality between Women and Men, equal pay programme

”The trade union movement must stand united and solidarity must remain its watchword.”

SAK: A MILLION STRONG

1 038 000 members in SAK-affiliated unions

100,000 activists

21 affiliated unions

➤ about 2,900 branches

➤ about 100 local organisations

➤ 13 regional offices and a representative in Åland

➤ 1,500 staff in SAK and its affiliates

➤ 100 staff in SAK

SAK – A UNION FOR UNIONS

WHO DO WE REPRESENT? SAK represents 1,038,000 union members:

➤ Industry 450 525 (43 %)

➤ Private services 248 381 (24 %)

➤ Public sector 238 861 (23 %)

➤ Transport 100 106 (10 %)

➤ 170,000 members under 30 years of age

➤ 482,039 women and 556,360 men

The women and men of SAK

MEN WOMEN

Private services 24 % 76 %

Industry 77 % 23 %

Public sector 32 % 68 %

Transport 72 % 28 %

Average income (€/month)

2 810 € 2 438 €

MEMBERSHIP OF AFFILIATES IN 2013

UNION TOTALWome

n %

Finnish Transport Workers´ Union 50 582 11

Finnish Aviation Union 3 712 25

Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors JHL (total including Customs, Coastguard, Railwaymen, Prison Officers, NCOs) 238 861 68

Union of Foremen in Commerce 7 655 67

Metalworkers´ Union 152 476 18

Service Union United PAM 229 811 78

Paperworkers´ Union 39 665 24

Finnish Post and Logistics Union 29 593 50

Wood and Allied Workers´ Union 37 534 23

Construction Trade Union 88 909 7

Railway Salaried Staff´s Union 1 220 54

Finnish Food Workers´ Union 36 237 58

Finnish Elite Athletes Union 3 216 18

Finnish Cabin Crew Union 1 875 89

Finnish Seamen´s Union 9 841 41

Finnish Musicians´ Union 3 331 32

Finnish Social Democratic Journalists´ Union 347 31

Finnish Electrical Workers´ Union 35 615 4

Industrial Union TEAM 60 089 48

Theatre and Media Employees in Finland 4 368 64

Finnish Locomotivemen´s Union 3 283 1

General Union of Journalists 179 38

Yhteensä1 038

399 46

MAIN REASONS FOR JOINING A UNION*

Pay security and job security: 45 %

Unemployment security: 30 %

* Source: Labour market policy opinion survey, spring 2012

SAK IN THE REGIONS

SAK works regionally and locally

Promoting co-operation with affiliated unions and officials

Promoting trade union organisation

Lobbying regionally to improve society

SAK IN THE REGIONS Offices in the Eastern Finland operating area

➤ Joensuu, Kuopio and Mikkeli

Offices in the Southern Finland operating area➤ Helsinki, Lahti and Lappeenranta

Offices in the South-Western Finland operating area➤ Pori and Turku

Offices in the Western Finland operating area➤ Jyväskylä, Tampere and Vaasa

Offices in the Northern Finland operating area➤ Oulu and Rovaniemi

Representative in Åland

SAK AND YOUNG ADULTS

170,000 members under 30 years of age

Youth Committee

➤ Co-ordinates union youth work, expresses opinions and prepares proposals concerning young adults.

Arvo magazine for young adults

Regional action groups for young people

”The traditional march with banners and a brass band is not the only way to make a stand and lobby effectively in all directions.”

SAK AS AN NGO

the largest women’s organisation in Finland

the largest immigrant organisation in Finland

ORGANISING RATE AND COVERAGE OF COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS, 2008 *2007 ’2006

STRUCTURE OF SAK

Congress

General Council

Executive Board

Specialist committees and

Project Groups

1 representative for every 3,000 union members

119 representatives from workplaces

18 representatives from affiliated unions,

plus the President and Vice-President of SAK

22 groups, representatives from trade unions

Affiliated trade unions

(21)

Union districts / regions

Union branches (2 900)

SAK regional organisation

• 13 regional committees

• 13 offices in 5 operating areas

Local organisations (110)

• Trade union branches as members

Workplaces• About 100,000 workers’ representatives

SAK ORGANISATION

SOCIAL PARTNERS

SAKMember Unions

STTKMember Unions

AkavaMember Unions

Confederation of

Finnish Industries

EK

Local government

employers

Office for the

Government as

Employer

Labour Market

Organisation of

the Church

Central governme

nt

SAK INTERNATIONALLY

Improving core labour rights, especially trade union rights all over the world

Solidarity projects (Trade Union Solidarity Centre of Finland SASK)

Influencing on EU policies

Collaboration in the Baltic Sea region (BASTUN)

FinUnionsJoint EU Representation of SAK, STTK and Akava in Brussels

Council of Nordic Trade UnionsNFS

ETUCEuropean Trade Union Confederation

International Trade Union Confederation

ITUC

Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD

TUAC

Trade Union Solidarity Centre of FinlandSASK

ILO International Labour Organization

”The strength of the trade union movement

is at the workplace”

Thank you!