Trade unions provide legal protection if employment disputes arise, negotiate collective agreements (TES) that set minimum wages and working conditions for entire sectors, and offer training and career support.
Trade unions provide legal protection if employment disputes arise, negotiate collective agreements (TES) that set minimum wages and working conditions for entire sectors, and offer training and career support. Many people also join for the unemployment fund (kassatyottomyyskassa) which provides better income-related unemployment benefit than the basic Kela benefit.
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Good to know
Finland has very high union membership compared to other countries. If your sector has a collective agreement, your employer must follow it even if you are not a union member - but members get direct legal help if there are issues. The cost is typically 1-2% of salary but you can deduct union fees from taxes.