In English
Workmates Vladyslav Khomenko and Volodymyr Havrushko: “Here, being a union member is part of everyday life”
The two Ukrainians, Vladyslav Khomenko and Volodymyr Havrushko, met while picking tomatoes in Agrifutura’s greenhouses in Pori. They have both worked in different places in Finland and abroad. The men are united by a common hobby and their family situation.
VLADYSLAV KHOMENKO (VLAD): We got to know each other when I came to work here at Agrifutura Tomaatit three years ago. Vova and I were both working in the greenhouses at the time. Right now, I am working in the packing department, because it is good to switch jobs every now and then, and we have that possibility here.
VOLODYMYR HAVRUSHKO (VOVA): I’ve been here a little over a year longer than Vlad. I pick tomatoes in the greenhouse and move around the aisles with the picking lift.
VLAD: We met for the first time here in Pori, but the main thing that unites us is that we both come from Ukraine. I myself come from Sumy.
VOVA: And I come from Lviv. I studied theology at an Orthodox seminary in Ukraine. Since then, I have worked abroad and have worked in construction sites in Israel and Spain before coming to Finland.
Balancing work and family life is easier here.
SAME FAMILY SITUATION
VLAD: I graduated as a mathematics teacher in my home country and then went on to study to become an agronomist. During my studies, I worked in Sweden and Denmark as part of my traineeship. I came to Finland for the first time in 2019. I have worked in gardens and on farms in Laitila and Kauhajoki, where I also met my wife, with whom we have a little boy.
VOVA: I have also been to Finland on several occasions and have picked blueberries, among other things, in various parts of Finland. My wife and I moved to Finland together and now we have a little son who was born here in Pori. We also help my elderly parents in Ukraine.
VLAD: The best thing here is that our life is stable and predictable. Life is very good right now. We get paid and we can pay our bills. My wife and I are also helping our families in Ukraine. The future in Ukraine is very uncertain. Time will tell what happens.
VLADYSLAV KHOMENKO
Greenhouse worker
Agrifutura Tomaatit Oy, Pori
VOVA: Here, we have everything we need. Our family, work and various services, schools and healthcare, all close by. Pori is different from Madrid, that’s for sure. And even if I could have earned more in Israel, I like it here. I like the work culture here. Balancing work and family is easier here.
VLAD: The work culture here is very much similar to that in Sweden and Denmark. I don’t see any major differences between the countries. In the Nordic countries, labour law is followed.
COMMON THEMES
VLAD: We have time to talk with Vova at work during lunch and on our breaks. We also get together on weekends. For example, we have barbecued together with our families.
VOVA: It’s good to know that you have a trusted friend you can turn to for help if there’s an emergency, for example.
VLAD: As we talked, we also discovered that we have a common hobby. We can have discussions together about investing. We both follow the stock market prices of companies online. We need to think about the future. It would be good to have a little something saved up when you retire.
VOLODYMYR HAVRUSHKO
Greenhouse worker
Agrifutura Tomaatit Oy, Pori
VOVA: We discuss the stock markets because it interests us both. But it’s not easy to follow things well enough to understand everything that’s involved. For example, figuring out how the taxation of investments works requires a lot of effort.
VLAD: The workplace has offered us a basic course in Finnish, but more time is needed to acquire a more in-depth proficiency in Finnish. Right now it’s about focusing on work and family, and at home I speak Ukrainian with my wife.
TRADE UNION PROVIDES PROTECTION
VOVA: Friends recommended that we join a trade union, so we became members of the Industrial Union. I have also participated in courses organised by the union in Tampere. During the courses, we have covered issues such as employment contracts. The Murikka Institute is a nice place.
VLAD: In Ukraine, being a member in a trade union is more of a political issue than in Finland. Here, it is commonplace. The most important thing is that the union membership gives us protection. I myself have attended courses organised by the trade union in Turku and Vaasa, where we have been provided with Ukrainian-language interpretation.
VOVA: We also have various activities organised here at our workplace. A couple of years ago, the employer organised a boat trip to Åland for all of us employees.
VLAD: It is also nice that the employer has always remembered the employees at Christmas. It has warmed our hearts.
