SEL members may be granted SEL legal aid in disputes related to working conditions or employment relationships that cannot be resolved through negotiation.

SEL’s legal aid is an important and valuable membership benefit. SEL members may be granted SEL legal aid in disputes related to working conditions or employment relationships that cannot be resolved through negotiation.

The legal aid provided by SEL to its members is better than legal aid offered by many other trade unions. SEL’s legal aid is free of charge for members. Members do not have to pay any deductible, and there is no upper limit on legal costs. If the member’s case is lost in court, SEL will pay not only the member’s legal costs but also any legal fees that may be payable to the opposing party.

Legal services and court proceedings in Finland are quite expensive. The cost of litigation can easily rise to tens of thousands of euros.

The granting of SEL legal aid is always based on a case-by-case assessment. SEL’s officers carefully review the case. We determine whether the collective agreement or the law has been violated and whether the matter can be proven in court. SEL grants legal aid to a member if there is a possibility of success in court.

The requirements for receiving SEL legal aid is that you have been a member of SEL for at least six months and have paid your membership fees.

Most problems are resolved at the workplace, initially through shop steward and, if necessary, through negotiations with the employer by SEL’s officers. We always aim to resolve disagreements primarily through negotiation.

In cases where the matter cannot be resolved through negotiation, SEL may grant the member legal aid. In recent years, SEL has granted legal aid to approximately 20 members annually. In a typical case, the employer has underpaid the employee or unlawfully terminated the employment contract. SEL’s legal aid can also be granted in cases of compensation for work-related accidents and occupational diseases.

If your problem cannot be resolved at the workplace through discussion with your employer via the shop steward, call SEL’s phone number at 09 4246 1200, and we will start investigating your case.