1. Tehy - The Union of Health and Social Care Professionals in Finland
2015

2. Tehy
Safeguards the interests of qualified health and social care professionals
The largest trade union for health and social care professionals in Finland
Organizes members both in the public and private sector
Trade union membership is high in the health and social care sector, more than 90 % of employees being TU members
About members including student members
Established in 1982
Affiliated to the Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees, STTK

3. The role of Tehy
Negotiates the collective agreements in the private, municipal and state employment sectors (8+1+1 agreements)
Provides advice and legal assistance to its members in connection with employment matters
Improves the economic position of its members, the terms and conditions of employment contracts and the professional, social and legal benefits of members
Participates in the development of education, training & professional skills of health care professionals
Provides education and training
Campaigns for the development of better working conditions

4. Tehy is a trade union for educated health and social care professionals, that improves the economic, professional, social and legal benefits of its members
Mission
Member orientation
Equality
Responsibility
Ethics
Values
Tehy is a bold and innovative guardian of interests for all health and social care professionals and the most respected trade union in Finland. The position of Tehy members in the labour market and in the society is strong.
Vision

5. Strategic goals Competitive and fair wages Organizational strength
Educated and trained workforce

6. Tehy represents Registered nurses Public-health nurses
Practical nurses
Paramedics
Physiotherapists
Midwives
Radiographers
Dental nurses
Oral hygienists
Nursery nurses/childminders
Mental health nurses
Podiatrists
Occupational therapists.....

7. Members of Tehy 92,2 % of members are female
Nearly 50 % of the members are under 35 years of age
The average age is 43 years
75,17 % work in the municipal sector
17,18 % work in the private sector
50,3 % of members are nurses
10,5 % of members are practical nurses
77,8 % work full-time and 81,2 % work with permanent employment contracts (in municipal sector)
The unemployment rate is less than 2 %

8. Members by Collective Agreements,2013 (%)

9. Organization The Head Office of Tehy is in Helsinki
Tehy has 14 regional offices all over Finland
Unemployment Fund
There are 258 branches of Tehy all over Finland
The student organization brings together students
There are 8 affiliated professional organizations
Decision making bodies: Executive Council (63 members)
Executive Board (15 members)
Executive Committee (5 members)
Last Congress of Tehy held in 2013 (80 Executive Council members will be elected in 2017)

10. Branches
There are 258 branches which bring together those who are employed by the same employer or in the same area
They are the basic working units of Tehy
The branches represent the professional and economic interest of the members at the workplace
Influence social and health policies and organize services at the local level
Negotiate salaries at local level
Mantain solidarity amongst the members by organising various meetings, activities and training

11. Affiliated member organizations
These professional organizations cooperate with Tehy as specialists, for example in professional and educational matters:
The Association of Biomedical Laboratory Scientists in Finland
The Finnish Paramedic Association
The Federation of Finnish Widwives
The Finnish Association of Child Care and Nursery Nurses
The Finnish Federation of Practical Mental Health Nurses
The Society of Radiographers in Finland
The Finnish Nurses Association
The Finnish Federation of Oral Health Care Professionals

12. Divisional Activities
Tehy has several Divisions which consist of groups of sectoral specialists. Each Division represents personnel in a specific profession or field.
Tehy Division of Academic Professionals
Tehy Division of Supervisors
Tehy Division of Administrators
Division of Public Health Nurses
Division of Practitioners specially qualified to issue prescriptions
Division of Entrepreneurs
Division of Chiropodists and Podiatrists (The Finnish Union of Chiropodists and Podiatrists SJJL)
Association of Practical Nurses

13. Tehy history in a Nutshell
Tehy was established in 1982 when six health and social care professional organizations merged to join forces. This created the biggest social and health care trade union in Finland.
Tehy members have been on strike in 1983 and 1995
In 2007 there was a threat of mass resignation because of the very low raise offered by the municipal employer. This mass resignation concerned about Tehy members. In order to stop the resignation parliament passed a law that would have forced Tehy members back to work. However, there was an agreement with the help of the National Conciliator before the mass resignation. The result of this action was a considerable raise in salaries.

14. Tehy Membership Benefits
Tehy bargains for the terms of collective agreements on behalf of its members
Unemployment fund membership and earnings-related unemployment benefit
Help available from shop stewards at the workplace
Legal aid
Insurance coverage
Membership services on the Internet and by telephone
Other benefits: Tehy magazine, reduced hotel and travel rates, ...
Membership fee is 1,1 % of gross salary, tax deductible

15. Tehy in the international arena
Tehy is affiliated to:
PSI – Public Services International
EPSU – European Federation of Public Service Unions
NOFS – Nordic Public Services Union
FIPSU – Finnish Public Services Unions’ EU Working Party
SASK – The Trade Union Solidarity Centre of Finland
KEPA – umbrella organization for Finnish organizations working with development co-operation
FINNWATCH – civil society organization focusing on corporate responsibility in Global South

16. Tehy International Activities
International work in public sector TU organizations
Representation of interests at the European Union level
Participation in the hospital sector social dialogue and local and regional government social dialogue (EU-level)
Migration issues, multiculturalism, ethical recruitment
Solidarity work and projects
The Philippines
West-Africa
Columbia

17. Tehy students
Tehy organizes health and social care students in universities, universities of applied sciences and vocational colleges
There is a special student association for Tehy students
There are about Tehy students all over Finland
Tehy students organize all kinds of events, training and activities for student members
Students are entitled to membership benefits and the membership is free of charge for students

18. Unemployment Fund Independent fund from Tehy
members, most of which are also members of Tehy
One of the membership benefits of Tehy is the membership of the Fund (=Tehy pays the membership fee)
If you are not a member of Tehy, the membership fee of the fund is 36 euros/year
As a member of the Fund you are entitled to an earnings-related allowance ( days), otherwise you are entitled only to a basic unemployment allowance paid by Kela (The Social Insurance Institution in Finland)

19. Tehy and lobbying Tehy is a politically pluralistic organization
Tehy is an influential actor on both the national and international level
Tehy co-operates actively with all the political parties in the Finnish parliament
More and more decisions are made in the EU eg. labour legislation lobbying Finnish MEPs, influencing via EPSU…
Participates in the development of health and social care structures and legislation, educational policy, OHS, pensions, social security....

20. For more information on Tehy
Tehy Magazine
Studies, research
Publications
Facebook facebook.com/tehy.fi
#tehy
@tehyopiskelijat @tehylehti
Youtube