• Helps and supports workplace members with employment matters, e.g. in questions and problems connected to pay, bonuses, leave and shifts.
• Explains which collective agreement is used at the workplace and instructs in its interpretation.
• Monitors compliance with labour laws and the collective agreement at the workplace.
• Negotiates with the employer about matters pertaining to the staff.
• Negotiates local agreements.
• Maintains a peaceful work environment and takes part in enhancing staff wellbeing at work.
• Gets acquainted with the daily work of the units and informs members about workplace matters.
• Collaborates with other staff representatives.
• Serves as a contact person with the union and professional branch.
• Actively acquires new members. 

Union representatives receive support from their area's union consultants and other specialists.

In the private sector, Tehy's members at a workplace are represented by a union representative from either Tehy or Sote. Tehy, SuPer and ERTO work together in order to look after the interests of their members through a joint negotiating organisation, Sote, which signs certain collective agreements.

Sote signs collective agreements in the private sector

• in healthcare
• in private social services
• for Avainta
• for the Finnish Student Health Service
• for the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

Workplaces that adhere to the abovementioned collective agreements elect a union representative from Sote. They represent members of Tehy, SuPer and ERTO. The collective agreements include an agreement on the employees' right to select a union representative for their workplace.

In the private sector, Tehy also signs collective agreements

• for emergency medical services
• between PlusTerveys Hammaslääkärit and Tehy
• between the Finnish Dental Association and Tehy
• between FinnHEMS Lentopalvelut, FinnHEMS and Tehy
• for the temporary workers of Seure Henkilöstöpalvelut.

Workplaces that adhere to the abovementioned collective agreements elect a union representative from Tehy.

In the wellbeing services counties and municipalities, employees belonging to Tehy are always represented by union representatives from Tehy. Each professional branch is responsible for the union representative elections.

Become a candidate or ask a colleague to become a union representative

If your workplace does not have a union representative, talk to your colleagues about it. It is in everyone's interests that your workplace has its own union representative!

All full members of Tehy can run as candidates in union representative elections. If you are interested in developing things at your workplace, you are an excellent candidate for a union representative! In that role, you will be able to develop yourself too and gain valuable experience. Alternatively, you can recommend the role to a colleague! Read more about reasons to become a union representative. 

Union representative elections in the wellbeing services counties and municipalities

The professional branches are responsible for the union representative elections in the wellbeing services counties and municipalities.

Union representative elections in the private sector

In the private sector, the collective agreement in place at a workplace affects the way the union representative is chosen.

Interested?

Read more in Finnish about union representative elections in the private sector and union representative elections in wellbeing services counties and municipalities and run as a candidate!