“It is a great honour to take this podium today – before all of you – as the Council’s organising meeting is always a very special occasion.”
Anna-Leena Brax was first elected as a union meeting representative and council member of Tehy in 1993. She was elected as the second vice-chairperson of the board in 2005, and since 2017, she served full-time as the first vice-chairperson.
“Over the years, I have seen and experienced the power of Tehy in many forms: alongside members in everyday life, as an advocate at the local level, in preparing for negotiation rounds, in labour battles.”
In her speech, Brax highlighted some of the union’s most important achievements over the decades – results that have strengthened the position of Tehy members and raised the profile of the union’s female-dominated sector.
“To me, one very important step forward was our success in establishing the framework for the social and healthcare sector’s collective agreement during the 2020 negotiation round, after which the agreement entered into force the following autumn.”
Brax described the 2022 negotiation round as difficult but historic, as the agreement reached was a major and concrete deed towards equality. She pointed out that pay equality cannot progress through programmes or documents – it is achieved with hard cash.
“Several Government Programmes have included mentions of measures to reduce the pay disparities between women and men. They have not led to any concrete action.”
Brax’s speech also highlighted the continuity of Tehy’s values and the position of its members.
“Tehy is not just an organisation – faceless or bland – but exactly as great and influential as outlined by its decision-makers. Its appearance is determined by its great number of members. Those who live and work across our country at different workplaces. They are highly educated and working in the best professions in the world.”
Brax gave her special thanks to Tehy’s current chairperson Millariikka Rytkönen. She concluded her speech with thanks to and encouragement for the union’s new decision-makers.
“You are doing important work on behalf of the members whom you represent. Make sure that Tehy continues to be a strong and attractive union.”
The speech given by Tehy’s First Vice-chairperson Anna-Leena Brax can be read in its entirety on the organising meeting pages.
Text: Mirka Mäntylä