tradeunion.fi Trade unions do much more than operate unemployment funds
Your union negotiates better pay and other employment terms on your behalf, and supports you if you have any problems with your employer. The more members join, the more we can do to improve working conditions for everyone.
Find your union
You can search for a suitable trade union by industry or employer. Searching by industry is an easy way to get started — just select one of the options and check out the list of the trade unions below!
Border Security Union
Border guards and coast guards, officers, and civilian employees of the Finnish Border Guard service
The Border Security Unionis the largest staff organisation of the Finnish Border Guard service. The union is affiliated to the Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors JHL.
All frontier guard staff categories are organised in the Border Security Union:
- coastguards
- frontier guards
- officers
- NCO students
- specialist officers
- civilian post holders
- Total membership subscription fees for the union and its unemployment fund:
- 1.0% of gross pay *
- For further details:
* union membership subscription fees are tax-deductible
Construction Trade Union
Employees in the construction and building materials industries, and in asphalting and waterproofing
The members of the Construction Trade Union work on construction and renovation sites (including the house building, painting and decorating, and flooring trades), in the building materials industry, in the building technology and civil engineering sector, and in asphalting and waterproofing.
The members of the Construction Trade Union work in the following sectors:
- the asphalting industry
- the stone-based construction products industry
- the floor covering industry
- the civil engineering sector
- the painting trade
- the earth construction sector
- the building construction industry
- the building technology sector
- the waterproofing trade
- Total membership subscription fees for the union and its unemployment fund:
- 1.49% of gross pay *
- For further details:
* union membership subscription fees are tax-deductible
Finnish Aviation Union IAU
Aviation industry employees in technical and service functions
IAU is a trade union for professionals engaged in technical and service duties in the aviation sector.
IAU members work in the following aviation industry occupations:
- aircraft servicing
- air traffic control
- customer service
- loading
- food preparation
- Total membership subscription fees for the union and its unemployment fund:
- 1.49% of gross pay *
- For further details:
* union membership subscription fees are tax-deductible
Finnish Customs Officers' Union
Employees and public servants working in customs administration
The members of the Finnish Customs Officers' Union are employees and public servants working at the Finnish Customs. The union is affiliated to the Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors JHL.
- Total membership subscription fees for the union and its unemployment fund:
- 1.0% of gross pay *
- For further details:
* union membership subscription fees are tax-deductible
Finnish Electrical Workers' Union
Employees in the electrical industry and allied trades
The members of the Electrical Workers´ Union work in the electrical industry and allied trades, or are studying for associated industry qualifications. The three main divisions of the union are energy-ICT-network technology, electrification work (electrical fitters in the building technology sector), and industrial and special sectors.
The members of the Electrical Workers´ Union work in electrical occupations in the following sectors:
- electric power plants
- thermal power plants
- nuclear power plants
- electricity distribution
- data communications
- information technology
- network technology
- electrical installations
- electrical automation
- security technology
- servicing and maintenance
- slot-machines
- industry
- special trades
- Total membership subscription fees for the union and its unemployment fund:
- 1.25% of gross pay *
- For further details:
* union membership subscription fees are tax-deductible
Finnish Elite Athletes Union SHU
Players of football, ice hockey, basketball and baseball, and athletes in individual sports
SHU brings together five player and athlete associations.
The affiliated members of SHU are:
- Elite Baseball Players
- The Football Players' Association
- The Finnish Basketball Players' Union
- The Finnish Ice Hockey Players' Association
- The Kilpa Athletes' Association
- Total membership subscription fees for the union and its unemployment fund:
- Membership fee varies according to affiliate association *
- For further details:
* union membership subscription fees are tax-deductible
Finnish Food Workers' Union SEL
All food industry employees
SEL is a dedicated trade union for employees working in the national food and drink sector.
The members of SEL work in all foodstuff sectors:
- foodstuffs industry
- bakeries
- meat industry
- food processing
- dairies
- milk processing industry
- breweries
- soft drink factories
- Total membership subscription fees for the union and its unemployment fund:
- 1.6% of gross pay *
- For further details:
* union membership subscription fees are tax-deductible
Finnish Industrial Union
Employees in the technology, chemical and mechanical forest industries, the automotive trade, the media and agriculture
The Finnish Industrial Union is Finland’s largest industrial sector trade union. It was established in January 2018 following a merger of Metalworkers' union, Industrial Union TEAM and Woodworkers' Union.
- Total membership subscription fees for the union and its unemployment fund:
- 1.35% of gross pay *
- For further details:
* union membership subscription fees are tax-deductible
Finnish Musicians' Union
Musicians, ballet dancers and opera singers
The members of the Finnish Musicians' Union are orchestral musicians and freelancers in various branches of music.
Members of the Finnish Musicians' Union include:
- orchestral musicians
- theatre musicians
- studio musicians
- restaurant musicians
- gig musicians
- conductors
- the dancers of the Finnish National Ballet
- the soloists and choir of the Finnish National Opera
- Total membership subscription fees for the union and its unemployment fund:
- 1.0% of gross pay + EUR 13.25 monthly *
- For further details:
* union membership subscription fees are tax-deductible
Finnish NCOs' Union
Non-commissioned officers, mechanics and contract soldiers in the Finnish defence forces
The main mission of the Finnish NCOs’ Union is to safeguard the interests of professional military personnel. The union is affiliated to the Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors JHL.
The following defence forces staff categories belong to the Finnish NCOs' Union:
- NCOs
- aircraft ground crews
- mechanics
- contractual military personnel
- military crisis management professionals
- Total membership subscription fees for the union and its unemployment fund:
- 1.2% % of gross pay *
- For further details:
* union membership subscription fees are tax-deductible
Finnish Post and Logistics Union PAU
Clerical and blue-collar employees in the postal, communications and logistics sectors
PAU is the trade union for clerical and blue-collar employees working in postal services, communications and logistics. PAU is the largest trade union representing staff of Posti Corporation.
The members of PAU work in the following enterprises:
- Posti corporation
- G4S Cash Solutions
- Posten Åland
- Direct postal advertising delivery firms
- Free newspaper delivery firms
- Total membership subscription fees for the union and its unemployment fund:
- 1.59% of gross pay *
- For further details:
* union membership subscription fees are tax-deductible
Finnish Prison Officers' Union VVL
Employees and public servants working in prisons and community sanctions offices
The members of VVL work for the Criminal Sanctions Agency. The union is affiliated to the Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors JHL.
VVL members work in the following capacities in prisons and community sanctions offices:
- supervision
- management
- clerical duties
- kitchen duties
- household management
- health care
- Total membership subscription fees for the union and its unemployment fund:
- 1.0% of gross pay *
- For further details:
* union membership subscription fees are tax-deductible
Finnish Seafarers' Union
Employees working in shipping and other waterborne transportation on sea and inland waterways
The Finnish Seafarers' Union represents employees who mainly work in maritime and inland shipping.
The members of SMU work on the following and other vessels:
- passenger ships
- freighters
- tankers
- icebreakers
- timber rafting tugboats
- barges
- ferries
- cable ferries
- Total membership subscription fees for the union and its unemployment fund:
- 1.55% of gross pay *
- For further details:
* union membership subscription fees are tax-deductible
Finnish Social Democratic Journalists' Union
Media workers who are sympathetic to social democratic principles
SSSL is a vehicle for workers sympathetic to social democratic principles engaged in journalism duties for the printed and electronic media, and in information and public relations functions. This union does not conclude collective agreements and does not operate an unemployment fund.
- Total membership subscription fees for the union and its unemployment fund:
- EUR 40 annually *
- For further details:
* union membership subscription fees are tax-deductible
Finnish Transport Workers' Union AKT
Employees in the transport, stevedoring and forwarding sectors, and in travel agencies
AKT is Finland’s largest trade union for transport sector professionals.
The members of AKT work in the following sectors:
- driving instruction
- forwarding
- motor vehicle repair sector
- motor vehicle sector
- motor vehicle servicing sector
- oil products
- road haulage terminals
- stevedoring
- transportation
- travel agencies
- cabin crew
- associated trades and occupations
- Total membership subscription fees for the union and its unemployment fund:
- 1.6% of gross pay *
- For further details:
* union membership subscription fees are tax-deductible
General Union of Journalists YLL
Left-leaning employees of newspapers, electronic media and communications
YLL is a left-wing vehicle for staff working for newspapers and electronic media, and full-time public relations and media employees. This union does not conclude collective agreements and does not operate an unemployment fund.
- Total membership subscription fees for the union and its unemployment fund:
- EUR 40 annually *
- For further details:
* union membership subscription fees are tax-deductible
Paperworkers' Union
Employees in paper, paperboard and pulp mills, and in paper conversion plants
The Paperworkers' Union represents employees working in paper, paperboard and pulp mills, and in paper conversion plants.
The members of the Paperworkers' Union perform the following duties in the pulp and paper industry:
- machine operator
- cellulose pulp makers
- wood processing manager
- chemicals handler
- forklift driver
- laboratory technician
- mechanic, electrician and automation repair worker
- cleaner
- construction worker
- transport worker
- other production and maintenance staff
- Total membership subscription fees for the union and its unemployment fund:
- 1.3% of gross pay *
- For further details:
* union membership subscription fees are tax-deductible
Railway Union RAU
Locomotive drivers and clerical employees working in the railways sector
Members of the Railway Union work as locomotive drivers, clerical employees and in other associated duties in the railways sector.
- Total membership subscription fees for the union and its unemployment fund:
- 1.3% of gross pay *
- For further details:
* union membership subscription fees are tax-deductible
Service Union United PAM
Private sector service employees, including the commercial, tourism and catering sectors and cleaning
PAM is Finland's largest trade union for private sector service employees and supervisors.
The members of PAM work in the following and other private service industries:
- wholesale and retail trading
- hotel, catering and leisure services
- cleaning and real estate services
- pharmacies
- hairdressing
- warehouses
- security firms
- Total membership subscription fees for the union and its unemployment fund:
- 1.5% of gross pay *
- For further details:
* union membership subscription fees are tax-deductible
Theatre and Media Employees in Finland Teme
Employees and self-employed workers in film, circus, dance, theatre, video and television production duties
Teme unites organisations representing eight cultural sectors into Finland's largest trade union for artistic and cultural occupations.
The members of Teme include:
- film workers
- circus employees
- theatre directors
- theatre technical staff
- television production workers
- dancers
- dance instructors
- choreographers
- theatre clerical staff
- scenographers
- light and sound designers
- Total membership subscription fees for the union and its unemployment fund:
- 1.6% of gross pay *
- For further details:
* union membership subscription fees are tax-deductible
Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors JHL
Employees in local and central government, other public sector entities and organisations
JHL organises social welfare professionals and students working for local authorities, central government agencies and private welfare services.
You may join JHL if you work in
- a local authority
- central government
- a local authority federation
- a parish
- any commercial institution or company owned by the foregoing
- an organisation/third sector entity
- a non-profit organisation
- a business or organisation providing public sector services
- any corresponding operating sector
- Total membership subscription fees for the union and its unemployment fund:
- 1.38% of gross pay *
- For further details:
* union membership subscription fees are tax-deductible
Union of Foremen in Commerce KEY
Foremen and supervisors in commerce, tourism, restaurants and leisure services
The Union of Foremen in Commerce is an independent lobbying vehicle for supervisors that is not affiliated to any commercial grouping.
- Total membership subscription fees for the union and its unemployment fund:
- EUR 23 monthly *
- For further details:
* union membership subscription fees are tax-deductible
No suitable union found
Use the following form if you would like us to identify a suitable trade union for you. You may also consult your workplace shop steward for advice on union-related matters. Your most appropriate trade union may also be affiliated to the Finnish Confederation of Professionals (STTK) or to the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland (Akava).