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.”

MISSIONThe 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 OBJECTIVES1. 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 established1917 Finland becomes independent, 8-hour working day1922 Employment Contracts Act, 4 – 7 days of annual holiday1930s National Pension Act, 5 – 12 days of annual holiday1940s Collective bargaining system, workers’ representative

system, Labour Court, child benefit1950s General strike, 45-hour working week1960s 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 WOMENPrivate 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 11Finnish Aviation Union 3 712 25Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors JHL (total including Customs, Coastguard, Railwaymen, Prison Officers, NCOs) 238 861 68Union of Foremen in Commerce 7 655 67Metalworkers´ Union 152 476 18Service Union United PAM 229 811 78Paperworkers´ Union 39 665 24Finnish Post and Logistics Union 29 593 50Wood and Allied Workers´ Union 37 534 23Construction Trade Union 88 909 7Railway Salaried Staff´s Union 1 220 54Finnish Food Workers´ Union 36 237 58Finnish Elite Athletes Union 3 216 18Finnish Cabin Crew Union 1 875 89Finnish Seamen´s Union 9 841 41Finnish Musicians´ Union 3 331 32Finnish Social Democratic Journalists´ Union 347 31Finnish Electrical Workers´ Union 35 615 4Industrial Union TEAM 60 089 48Theatre and Media Employees in Finland 4 368 64Finnish Locomotivemen´s Union 3 283 1General 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

CongressGeneral CouncilExecutive 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

ETUC European 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!