ASIA is a trade union for private sector professionals, managers and senior salaried employees in Finland.
In Finland, trade unions work closely with the employers’ organisations to ensure that the Finnish market is open, fair and competitive. On a personal level, this means that we negotiate the framework for employment conditions and salaries on your behalf, to make sure you have fair working conditions.
ASIA membership is based on job status, not education or industry. The educational background of our members varies from school leaver to postgraduate degree level. Most members hold commercial college graduate, business IT specialist, technician and M.Sc. qualifications. Economists, engineers, BBA graduates and lawyers are organised in their own specialist unions.
Our members work in a wide range of sectors, including the technology industries, ICT, finance, real estate, transport and trade, and general industry.
As a member of ASIA you will enjoy individual service from an organisation that defends your interests and provides excellent member benefits for a fixed monthly subscription.
Get to know ASIA's member associatons
Work on behalf of individual members involves providing employment advice, legal services, and various advisory materials. Members may also approach ASIA for advice on salary standards, or consult the ASIA legal department for technical assistance with aspects such as employment contracts, non-disclosure and restraint of trade agreements.
Did you know that collective agreements agree on industry related terms of employment? They include issues such as the remuneration of parental leave, employee representation in the workplace, the remuneration of sick leave, and the reimbursement of travel expenses. All of these are important topics to the Akava community.
Collective agreements are negotiated between employers' and employees' organizations. Our negotiation activities are handled by The Federation of Professional and Managerial Staff YTN. As AKAVA's collective bargaining organisation for the private sector, YTN is responsible for activities relating to negotiations and contracts for AKAVA's field members in commercial, service and industrial sectors.
Akava, the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland, is a trade union confederation for those with university, professional or other high-level education. Akava has 36 affiliates with altogether over 600 000 unionised members working as employees, entrepreneurs and self-employed professionals in either the public or private sector.
Company level employee association Many companies have a local staff association operating at unit, enterprise or group level. The role of such an association includes defending the employment-related interests of their members. Employee associations have a registered independent legal identity, meaning that they may enter into binding local agreements and collective agreements on behalf of their members. We recommend membership of any YTN-affiliated employee association operating at your workplace.
Staff representatives Staff representatives include the elected representatives of senior salaried employees, shop stewards and other representatives elected to positions of trust, staff liaison officers, and representatives elected under the Employment Contracts Act. The elected representatives of senior salaried employees may belong to any YTN-affiliated trade union, including ASIA, but will represent all senior salaried employees working in the represented staff group regardless of trade union membership. A staff liaison officer also serves as a link between ASIA and its members and affiliated staff associations at the workplace.
We at ASIA offer a wide range of membership services to support you at different stages in your career. Get to know alll services and benefits.