The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions, usually referred to by the acronym SAK (Finnish: Suomen Ammattiliittojen Keskusjärjestö, Swedish: Finlands Fackförbunds Centralorganisation, FFC) is the largest trade union

Trade union

A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...

 confederation in Finland

Finland

Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

. Its member organisations have a total of more than one million members, which makes up about one fifth of the country's population.

The other two Finnish trade unions confederations are the Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees

Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees

The Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees is a trade union confederation in Finland. It has a membership of 650,000 and represents salaried employees in Finland....

 (STTK) and the Confederation of Unions for Academic Professionals in Finland

Confederation of Unions for Academic Professionals in Finland

The Confederation of Unions for Academic Professionals in Finland is a trade union confederation in Finland. It represents employees with university-level, professional or other high-level training. It has a membership of 448,000....

 (AKAVA). The most important negotiating partner of SAK is the Elinkeinoelämän keskusliitto/Finlands Näringsliv (the Confederation of Finnish Industries

Confederation of Finnish Industries

The Confederation of Finnish Industries is the largest business organisation in Finland. It was formed in the beginning of 2005 when two private sector organisations, Palvelutyönantajat and Teollisuuden ja Työnantajain Keskusliitto , united...

, EK), which represents the majority of Finnish employers.

SAK has been challenged by Yleinen työttömyyskassa

Yleinen työttömyyskassa

Yleinen työttömyyskassa , formerly known as Loimaan kassa , is the largest unemployment fund in Finland. It has over 260,000 members.Yleinen työttömyyskassa is independent. It is particularly popular among younger people....

, an independent unemployment insurance institute, which charges lower fees than some of the trade unions, while not providing the other services of a Finnish trade union.

The current SAK was founded in 1969 as the Finnish Federation of Trade Unions (SAK 1930–1969), controlled by SKDL

Finnish People's Democratic League

Finnish People's Democratic League was a Finnish political organisation with the aim of uniting those left of the Finnish Social Democratic Party...

 and TPSL, and the Finnish Trade Union Federation (SAJ 1960–1969), controlled by SDP

Social Democratic Party of Finland

The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...

, settled their disputes and merged. The SAK, however, considers itself the continuation of the first finnish central organisation, the Finnish Trade Union Federation (SAJ 1907–1930).

Scandals

SAK has received a lot attention for spending its members' money to mudslinging on behalf of Social Democratic Party. SAK's 2007 television advertisements were found so defaming that SAK had to withdraw the campaign. Even some SDP members expressed "disgust".

SAK has been convicted of sexual discrimination in high court. As of 2008, police is investigating financial fraud committed by SAK's Kiljava school.

Current

• Construction Trade Union
• Finnish Aviation Union IAU
• Finnish Cabin Crew Union SLSY
• Finnish Electrical Workers' Union
• Finnish Food Workers' Union SEL
• Finnish Locomotivemen's Union
• Finnish Musicians' Union
• Finnish Post and Logistics Union
• Finnish Railwaymen's Union
• Finnish Seamen's Union SM-U
• Finnish Social Democratic Journalists' Union
• Finnish Transport Workers' Union AKT
• General Union of Journalists YLL
• Industrial Union TEAM
• Metalworkers' Union
• Paperworkers' Union
• Railway Salaried Staff's Union
• Service Union United PAM
• Theatre and Media Employees in Finland TeMe
• Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors JHL
  • Coastguard Union
  • Finnish Customs Officers' Union
  • Finnish NCOs' Union
  • Finnish Prison Officers' Union
• Union of Foremen in Commerce
• Wood and Allied Workers' Union

Former

• Suomen Autoalantyöntekijäin Liitto (1969–1970) merged into AKT
• Auto- ja Konealan Unioni AKU (?–2003) merged into Metalworkers' Union
• Auto- ja Kuljetustyöväen Liitto (1969–1970) merged into AKT
• Hotel and Restaurant Workers' Union (1969–2000) merged into PAM
• Ilmakuljetusalan Ammattiliitto (1969) merged intoi IAU
• Suomen Ilmakuljetus Unioni (1969) merged into IAU
• Noble Metal Workers' Union (1969–1974) merged into Metalworkers' Union
• Järjestötoimitsijain Liitto JTL (–1996)
• Finnish Miners' Union (1969) merged into Metalworkers' Union
• Chemical Workers' Union (1993−2009) merged into TEAM
• Kemian Työntekijäin Liitto (1970–1993) merged into Chemical Workers' Union
• Kiinteistötyöntekijäin Liitto (1969–2000) merged into PAM
• Rubber and Leather Workers' Union (1969–1993) merged into Chemical Workers' Union
• Kunnallis- ja sairaala-alojen työntekijäin liitto (1969–?)
• Municipal Workers' Union KTV (1969–2006) merged into JHL
• Suomen Laivanpäällystöliitto SLPL (1972–1989) resigned, moved to STTK
• Finnish Glass and Porcelain Workers' Union (1968–1994) merged into Chemical Workers' Union
• Liikealan ammattiliitto (1987–2000) merged into PAM
• Liiketyöntekijäin Liitto (1969–1987) merged into Liikealan ammattiliitto
• Finnish Rural Workers' Union (1969–1993) merged into Wood and Allied Workers' Union
• Mielenterveys- ja kehitysvamma-alan liitto (1941–1981) merged into KTV
• Finnish Bricklayers' Union (1969–1971) merged into Construction Trade Union
• Paperiteollisuuden työntekijäin liitto (1969–?)
• Finnish Police Union (1945–1984) resigned 1984
• Postiliitto (1945–2005) merged into PAU
• Wood Workers' Union (1969–1993) merged into Wood and Allied Workers' Union
• Harbour Workers' Union (1969–1970) merged into AKT
• Finnish Divers' Union (1969) merged into Construction Trade Union
• Teknisten- ja Erikoisammattien Liitto Tekeri (1969–2000) merged into PAM
• Suomen Tekstiililaitosmiesten Liitto (1968–1989) merged into Teva
• Textile Workers' Union (1969–1970) merged into Teva
• Textile and Clothing Workers' Union Teva (?–2004) merged into Chemical Workers' Union
• Journalist Union (1969–?)
• Finnish Workers' Union (1969–?)
• Valtion Virkailijain Liitto (1969–?)
• Valtion Yhteisjärjestö VTY (?–2006) merged into JHL
• Finnish Media Union (1969–2009) merged into TEAM
• Virkamiesten Yhteisjärjestö (1969–?)

External links

• SAK's website in English