This is SAK

SAK - 19.05.2010 - 16:19

The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions – SAK is the oldest employee confederation in Finland. Founded in 1907, it has looked after the interests of employees for a century. Nowadays SAK represents the interests of more than one million members in 21 affiliated trade unions. This makes SAK the largest lobbying organisation in Finland.

Through international organisations and other contacts, SAK is an active lobbyist for the common interests of employees throughout the world and for improved co-ordination and partnership of trade unions globally.

Here we tell you something about the work, objectives, history and organisation of SAK. You will also find details of international lobbying work. Other topics include the training system of SAK.

SAK in brief

SAK is a confederation of 21 trade unions in industry, the public sector, transport and private services. These unions have a total of more than one million members, and promoting the emotional and material welfare of these individuals is the prime concern of SAK.

The members of SAK-affiliated trade unions work in such a wide range of occupations that it is virtually impossible to define the profile of the typical member. Local authority childminders, flight attendants, bus drivers, waiters, builders and paper mill employees are all working in sectors organised under the broad SAK umbrella.

Just under half of the members of SAK-affiliated unions work in industry, about one third work in private services and one quarter work in the public sector. About a quarter of these members are under 35 years of age. 46 per cent of the total membership of SAK-affiliated unions are women.