Tehy, the trade union for social care, healthcare and education professionals, promotes equality in a comprehensive manner: we influence legislation, support minority rights and engage in tangible work to eliminate inequality in daily life.
This year, Tehy is participating in Pride Week as a sponsor to emphasise the significance of equality in working life, in particular, and hosting a Pride party on Monday 16 June 2025. The party features a high-level panel discussion with participants such as Tehy Chairperson Millariikka Rytkönen.
“Trade unions play an important role in building equality and influencing opinions. We need visible and consistent action. At a time when equality and diversity are being chipped away at by political leaders who promote discrimination in the United States and Europe, here at Tehy, we are taking a stand for the basic rights of all people – in all situations, consistently,” Rytkönen says.
Equality is not a constant, achieved state, but a continuous movement towards a fairer society. Tehy is committed to building a working life and society in which everyone can be recognised as valuable and accepted.
Finnish legislation supports equality in many ways. The Non-Discrimination Act promotes equality, prevents discrimination and improves legal protection for those who have experienced such discrimination. The Act on Equality between Women and Men prevents gender-based discrimination and safeguards rights related to gender identity or expression, and the Criminal Code provides for sanctions for discrimination and incitement against a group of people.
This means that non-discrimination is not only something companies ensure as a choice, but workplaces must, by law, draw up equality and non-discrimination plans.
Long commitment to Pride values
Tehy has participated in Pride marches since 2018 and was an official Helsinki Pride sponsor in 2024. Tehy's own operating culture also reflects these values: every member and employee is welcome to participate in our activities as they are.
Unfortunately, discrimination in the social welfare and health care sector is still commonplace. The majority of discrimination cases reported to Tehy’s legal service concern pregnancy and parental leave discrimination. Equality work against discrimination also takes the form of promotion of equal pay, which is one of the core activities of Tehy.
“When we accommodate sections of the population or minorities affected by discrimination, we are not creating privileges. Instead, we are correcting an imbalance that many people will not have encountered in their lives. As chairperson, I will not compromise on this issue,” Rytkönen states.
Tehy Pride party
16 June 2025 at 14:00–18:00
Hobo Helsinki, Kluuvikatu 4, Helsinki
The event complies with the Tehy principles for safer spaces.
Enquiries: Tehy Director Sari Viinikainen, tel. 040 779 36 37, [email protected]