“Without the collective labor agreement negotiated by the Labor Union, the employee has no protection.”
Sari started working as a mail carrier at Posti in 1990. The transition from her previous labor union to the Post Union happened immediately. ”Whether all the work-related rules were followed correctly in my youth, one can never be certain, but the membership provides protection. Members receive guidance and, in critical situations, even legal support,” says Sari.
The naivety of youth and the assumption that things like salary or accrued holidays are always correct have faded over the years. With the help of the labor union, Sari discovered one summer that she had four weeks of untaken annual leave. Furthermore, the compensation owed to Sari for her advocacy work had to be retroactively demanded for payment.
All employees, including those who are not members of the labor union, benefit from the collective labor agreement. It is crucial to keep in mind that during new agreement negotiations, the entire collective labor agreement is open for discussion. This means that previously agreed benefits may be lost if there is insufficient strength derived from the number of members.
If the employees engage in strike to achieve common objectives, the union typically provides its members with strike assistance, ensuring their financial security.
The limits for workload, working hours, and salary agreed on the collective labor agreement provide employees with a clear understanding of the extent to which they should accommodate the demands of the employer.
According to Sari, ”The established rules concerning protection against contract termination and the prioritization of workforce reduction prevent the workplace from turning into a Wild West during the constant process of change negotiations.”
Sari is currently going through her second round of taking courses offered by the union. Her understanding of the postal industry has expanded beyond her own work unit. With the increased knowledge, she no longer needs to seek advice for every matter but can find solutions on her own.
On her journey of learning about the rules of the work life, Sari has also engaged in advocacy tasks and committee work within PAU’s Helsinki branch. With a deeper understanding of the issues, she can now share information more broadly with the entire work community. ”Furthermore, I have noticed that there are indeed aspects where we, as employees, can intervene and strive to improve working conditions,” Sari explains.
As a member benefit, Sari mentions the insurance, which includes personal accident insurance for leisure time as well as passenger and travel insurance. The union’s Reitti magazine keeps members updated on changes in the work life. The Helsinki branch’s Preivari magazine familiarizes members with local matters. The branch itself organizes member events that provide opportunities to meet colleagues from the Helsinki metropolitan area.
”In unity, there is strength, and together we can achieve great things,” summarizes Sari.