Safeguarding interests

Akava Special Branches safeguards interests in three areas

• Salary and employment relationship advice
• Collective agreements
• Professional

Salary and employment relationship advice

One of the most tangible safeguards of members’ interests is day-to-day employment relationship advice and help in problematic situations. It does not always have to be a problem-related issue. The union also provides information on matters concerning employment contracts, collective agreements and labour legislation. Our team, which comprises seven lawyers and authorised representatives with a sound grasp of collective agreements, is thoroughly familiar with the constantly changing legislation that affects working life.
 

You can turn to the Akava shop steward or contact person at your workplace. If there is no one, contact the union. Our authorised representatives and lawyers give advice and negotiate directly with the employer when necessary.

Salary advice is one aspect of safeguarding the individual interests of our members. This service is available when you are applying for a new job or negotiating a pay rise. The union website includes a salary barometer for you to use; it lists the average salaries for the professions we represent and the salary quartiles in line with professional title and/or educational background. Statistical salary advice is also available over the phone or by email. One of our authorised representatives is responsible for salary statistics. The lawyers and authorised representatives responsible for the relevant employer sector give salary advice with regard to collective agreements.

Safeguarding the interests of collective agreements

Akava Special Branches safeguards the interests of its members by exerting an influence within Akava – the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland and the negotiating bodies that operate within its sphere. As the sixth largest member union of Akava, Akava Special Branches is represented on the key bodies of the central organisation.
 

The union participates in public sector collective agreement negotiations through the Negotiation Organisation for Public Sector Professionals JUKO. Akava Special Branches exerts an influence within the private sector through the Experts and Managerial Professionals Association YTN. Akava Special Branches is a member of both negotiating bodies.
 

Safeguarding professional interests

Akava Special Branches and the member associations work together to safeguard professional interests. The member associations represent and convey the opinions and objectives of the different professions.

The union exerts an influence on labour legislation as well as on education, labour and industrial policies both directly and through Akava – the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland and representation on its subordinate negotiating bodies.

The union safeguards interests internationally through Akava’s committee for international affairs and the Finnish Public Services Unions' EU Working Party (FIPSU).