The shop steward is there to help you

In every workplace, cove­red by an Industrial Union collec­tive agree­ment, emplo­yees can elect a union member as their shop steward (luot­ta­mus­mies). The elec­tions are held every two years. Any union member can be a candi­date in his or her workplace, and all members have the right to vote.

The tasks of a shop steward are to nego­tiate, make agree­ments, settle dispu­tes, and chan­nel infor­ma­tion between the emplo­yees and the emplo­yer. To this end, the collec­tive agree­ments guaran­tee trai­ning, financial compen­sa­tion and paid time off for these tasks. In compa­nies with more than 400 emplo­yees, a shop steward is a full-time job.

One of the key tasks of the shop steward is to help union members in all ques­tions concer­ning terms of work. In all such matters, the shop steward is bound to observe abso­lute client confidentiality.

The ideal situa­tion is when the shop steward and the emplo­yer are in genuine cooperation.

The shop steward has the right to get rele­vant infor­ma­tion from the emplo­yer in order to carry out his or her duties. They have the right to speak directly when repre­sen­ting emplo­yees. They have protec­tion against unfair dismissal.

The ideal situa­tion is when the shop steward and the emplo­yer are in genuine coope­ra­tion. Working toget­her to improve the work milieu and inno­va­ting new ways to act, bene­fit­ting both the company and emplo­yees. In fact, this is quite the norm.

The task of a shop steward sounds deman­ding. Howe­ver, there is no need to be an amateur lawyer or to master every detail of working life rules. Shop stewards are like anyone else in the workplace, normal people with a willing­ness to speak out for their colleagues.

And they are not left on their own without support. The Industrial Union trains shop stewards, equips them with mate­rial needed, and has lawyers and other staff to help them with any ques­tion. The union knows that shop stewards are the back­bone of the union.

The union at your workplace

When you join the Industrial Union, you join one of the union’s local branc­hes. At the moment, there are some 440 of them. The members can consist of people from a single or seve­ral workplaces.

The local branc­hes offer trai­ning and recrea­tio­nal acti­vi­ties. All local branc­hes have a democ­ra­tically elec­ted board. It can often advise members on ques­tions regar­ding work-rela­ted issues. The shop steward works in close co-opera­tion with the local branch.

Anot­her person repre­sen­ting emplo­yees is the occu­pa­tio­nal health and safety (OHS) repre­sen­ta­tive (työsuo­je­lu­val­tuu­tettu). He or she is elec­ted by a ballot in the workplace. In the bigger workplaces, an addi­tio­nal OHS commit­tee is also elected.

The task of an OHS repre­sen­ta­tive is to focus on matters concer­ning health and safety issues at the workplace. He or she acts on any shortco­mings that come to light. In this area, help and coope­ra­tion from all emplo­yees is vital.

The role of the OHS repre­sen­ta­tive is based on legis­la­tion and collec­tive agreements.