Being a member in the trade union is primarily about much more than just earnings-related unemployment benefit.
Prime minister Orpo’s government has cut unemployment benefits, but it is still absolutely worthwhile for every employee to be a member of a trade union and an unemployment fund. The earnings-related unemployment benefit paid by the unemployment fund will almost always be higher than the basic allowance or labor market subsidy paid by Kela.
Membership of SEL includes membership in the unemployment fund, but being a member in the trade union is primarily about much more than just earnings-related unemployment benefit.
Every worker in the food industry should be a member of their industry’s trade union, which is SEL. The union is on the side of the worker and negotiates salary increases and other working conditions with employers.
The most important member benefits of SEL are the collective agreement, SEL’s shop steward’s support, employment counseling, and legal aid.
Only as a member of SEL can you contribute to improving the wages and working conditions of food industry workers. If food industry workers are not members of SEL, the union will not have the power to negotiate wage increases and other working conditions for employees.
Without a trade union, we would not have a collective agreement, which ensures much better wages and working conditions for employees than what is mandated by Finnish law. For example, salary increases, paid leave, paid sick leave, and holiday pay are only agreed upon in the collective agreement negotiated by SEL. These are not included in the law.
SEL’s shop stewards and officers help resolve members’ workplace issues every day. Every year, through negotiations alone, we secure hundreds of thousands of euros in unpaid wages and compensation for our members, such as in cases of unlawful dismissals.
The better employee benefits guaranteed by the collective agreement will continue to exist only because of union members.
Are you interested in your wages and working conditions? If your answer is yes, you should belong to your industry’s trade union. These issues are handled only by the union, which is made up of its members.
>> Join the Union