Greetings to all!
My name is Mari Rask and I am the chair of the Tehy local branch (No. 228) for the municipal sector in Southwest Finland and the chief union representative of Tehy members in the city of Salo.
Our local branch was founded on 1 October 2024 because my colleague from Turku and I decided at the Change Coaching Days in early 2024 that we did not want to become a subdivision of the wellbeing services county. From there, we started to think about this matter and explore the possibility of establishing our own local branch for the municipal sector. The interim board, consisting of a whopping four people, took up its activities on 1 October 2024.
The first task was to hold board elections towards the end of 2024. We made a brochure and sent out several messages around Southwest Finland, and we called members directly if we received a tip that a person might be interested in joining the board. Each time we received a signed candidate document, we cheered with joy. Eventually, we found enough candidates to elect a board for 2025 by way of an uncontested election.
Meetings and members’ evenings
As we were almost all strangers to each other, we started our board work by holding an away day at Naantali Spa in January. We first got to know each other while splashing about in a pool, and it was not long before we were talking and laughing. After that, it was a good time to plan the activities of the local branch based on the wishes and expectations of the members, which were compiled through a survey.
Meetings are held once a month via Teams because of the long distances. The agenda is sent out a week in advance so that everyone has time to familiarise themselves with the issues to be considered and come up with ideas. This is to also ensure that the meeting does not drag on for too long and that it is concluded within two hours, as planned. Regardless, there is usually time left for discussion and comments, and sometimes even for tangents. In other words, meetings take place in a very relaxed atmosphere, with people lounging on their couch at home, though hopefully not sleeping.
We have sought to organise events for our members around Southwest Finland. We are currently in the middle of a members’ evening tour, which means that we hold members’ evenings in different areas. The purpose is to discuss current issues, wishes and matters related to representation that are relevant to each area. Members’ evenings are always attended by union representatives from the local branch, of whom there are currently three.
We held a few members’ evenings last spring. We have had to cancel a few of these evenings due to low attendance. Unfortunately, not even the catering attracted more interested people. The evenings that have taken place have been relaxed, and there has been plenty of discussion, even without preliminary slideshows.
Making Tehy visible in the municipal sector as well
The chairpersonship of the local branch combined with the role of union representative has been very interesting and engaging. The board of our local branch is made up of committed people, and we do our utmost to reach members in every nook and cranny in Southwest Finland.
Our aim is to make Tehy visible and heard in the municipal sector as well. To achieve this aim, we need new members from different municipalities. After all, we are the only trade union that primarily represents education and teaching professionals in the municipal sector.
Working in a local branch creates excellent networks at both the local and national levels. You are also the first to hear about things and have the opportunity to influence the activities organised in your community. So do not hesitate to stand as a candidate in the autumn elections!
You do not have to know anything in advance or be afraid of being assigned a demanding task if you become a member of the board of a local branch. The most important thing is to have interest and enthusiasm. We move forward by working together. There are many experts in different fields at Tehy who you can always turn to for advice. I would like to thank them because we have often relied on their help over the past year and we will also continue to need them in the future. They have provided us with support and encouragement when we have felt that our efforts are pointless.
Although board work can sometimes be difficult, for the most part it has been rewarding and educational. I do not regret for a moment setting up our own local branch for the municipal sector in Southwest Finland. We are making our way forward with small steps, so please join our enthusiastic team.
Come and join the action!!!
