Union´s new regional centres begin their work

Until the end of 2021, the 35 collec­tive agree­ments of the union were divided into four agree­ment sectors. From now on, there will be just three sectors.

The existing special branches sector will be closed down and the collec­tive agree­ments placed under the chemical and techno­logy sectors. The wood product sector conti­nues as it is today.

For example, the rural industries will operate under the techno­logy sector and the textiles services branch under the chemical sector.

At the same time all three agree­ment sectors will now be working together as one joint labour market sector with Jyrki Virtanen as Director. He has been up until now Director of the techno­logy sector.

In practise, these admini­stra­tive changes will not greatly affect the indivi­dual member. His or her questions will still be answered and interests taken care of by the union. Shop stewards will continue to work as they do now.

Another change is the reform of regional offices. Before, the union had 11 regional offices. From January on, there will be seven regional centres. These are to be located in Helsinki, Kuopio, Lahti, Oulu, Tampere, Turku and Vaasa.

Before, the union had 11 regional offices. From January on, there will be seven regional centres.

The areas served by the new regional centres are the same as counties of Finland. This means that in some cases the regional centre serving members might not be the same as before.

Behind the changes is the fact that the Industrial Union is both a new and old organi­sa­tion. In 2018, three unions merged to become the existing Industrial Union.

These three unions had deep roots in the labour movement. The oldest union local branch today is the book printers associa­tion in Helsinki, established in 1869. After the book printers’ union was established in 1894, it reached in 1911 the first collec­tive agree­ment in Finland.

The Metalwor­kers’ Union started in 1899. In the same year, the carpen­ters’ union was established.

All these old roots, unions and practises came together in the Industrial Union. To get everyt­hing working together seamlessly demands conti­nuous thinking.

The struc­ture and location of the regional offices, for example, has been under consi­de­ra­tion for some years. The union strategy for the years 2018–2023 notes that the regional organi­sa­tions should be developed in line with the needs of members.

Now this goal is going one step forward.