Our priorities

Opinion: Working Conditions in Remote Work and the Right to Disconnect Must Be Secured in the EU.

European Works Councils (EWCs): Strengthening of the EWC Directive is necessary

Occupational Safety and Health: Legislative program needed to implement the EU’s occupational Safety and Health Strategy

Directive on Minimum Wages: The European Commission’s minimum wage proposal would promote sectoral collective agreements

Pay Transparency: Increasing pay transparency with EU legislation is an effective way to promote equal pay

Platform Economy: Employment relationships in the platform economy must be identified and recognized

The voice of Finnish employees in Brussels from the beginning of EU membership

The Finnish trade union representation has been based in Brussels since 1995. FinUnions celebrated its anniversary in 2020, when it was 25 years since the office was founded. But the EU integration of employees began much earlier.

25 years in Brussels defending wage-earners

You can read FinUnions’ history book written by Seppo Tamminen, a Finnish reasearcher, in Finnish online. We also have the pleasure of publishing a summary in English prepared by Kari Tapiola, former Deputy Director-General of the ILO, who as International Affairs Director of SAK participated in the process from 1988 to 1996. The summary is found in English here.

FinUnions’ directors tell all

In the following blos, FinUnions’ previous directors talk about their time in charge of the office.

Heikki Pohja: Suomen ay-liikkeen eurooppalaisen edunvalvonnan alkutaipaleelta

Ari Åberg: Tiivistyvän edunvalvonnan aikaa 2007–2010

Risto Kousa: Talouskurimuksesta kohti talouskuria

Pekka Ristelä: Sosiaalisen Euroopan käännettä todistamassa

A long tradition of EU cooperation

EU co-operation between wage earners began in the early 1990s, when Finland began negotiations on EU membership. At that time, central organizations of trade unions and several trade unions were already themselves involved in European labour organizations.

The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK had been a member of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) since the 1970s. STTK joined the ETUC in the early 1990s.

At the time, two important guidelines were drawn up in the central organizations: First, it was found that EU lobbying required close cooperation from all organizations. Secondly, it was decided to support Finland’s goal to seek EU membership. In order to promote these two main objectives, a joint EU lobbying office was set up. It initially operated in Finland for a few years, until the unit moved to Brussels in 1995 under the wings of an EU membership.

FinUnions

FinUnions is the EU representation of SAK and STTK representing 1.4 million workers in Finland.

SAK is the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions in industry, the public sector, transport and private services in Finland.

STTK is the Finnish Confederation of Professionals in both private and public sectors.

Our mission

Our mission is to promote a Europe that is fair for its citizens. As representatives of about 1.4 million workers in Finland our aim is to make sure that their voice is heard in the EU decision-making processes.

We work in close cooperation with the ETUC, European Trade Union Confederation, the major trade union organisation representing workers at the European level. SAK and STTK are members of the ETUC.

FinUnions’ board

FinUnions is a registered association (FinUnions ry), whose work is guided by the board. Jarkko Eloranta is chair (SAK) and Antti Palola vice chair (STTK). The heads of international affairs Pekka Ristelä (SAK) and Maria Häggman (STTK) are board members. In addition, Director Susanna Salovaara and Communications Officer Marie Sandberg-Chibani are assisting the board.

Our team

Susanna Salovaara

Director
+32 488 47 95 08
susanna.salovaara@finunions.org

Marie Sandberg-Chibani

Communications Officer with clerical duties
+32 492 08 01 39
marie.sandberg-chibani@finunions.org

Address

FinUnions
Boulevard du Jardin Botanique 20, 6th floor
1000 Brussels
Belgium

Metro: Rogier (exit: City2)

N.B! Our office has a new address from 18/12/2023!