Finnish Food Workers’ Union SEL
All food industry employees may join SEL.
Members
The Finnish Food Workers’ Union SEL is a trade union for employees in the food industry.
SEL union members work in the following sectors:
- bakeries
- breweries
- dairies
- food factories
- the food industry
- the meat industry
- the milk processing industry
- soft drinks factories.
Joining the union
You can join SEL via an online application, or by contacting the SEL shop steward at your workplace.
The membership fee for SEL in 2025 is 1.4 per cent of gross wages. This membership fee includes membership of the unemployment fund. The membership fee is tax-deductible.
Student membership
Students on vocational qualification courses related to the food industry may join SEL as student members.
Student membership is free of charge. Student members of SEL are eligible for all SEL membership benefits, including free leisure time travel insurance.
Riikka Hirvonen (40)
Riikka Hirvonen is a dedicated baker who helps to keep the nation fed.
- Riikka has served as a Baker at the Linkosuo Bakery in Kangasala since the early 2000s.
- She is a member of the Finnish Food Workers’ Union (SEL).
“It is vital that the union negotiates collective agreements and supports us in all issues. I also serve as an occupational safety and health representative. While this officially requires one and a half days of job release per month, I tend to respond to urgent business immediately when asked. I really don’t have the heart to tell anyone
Collective agreements
SEL negotiates the following collective agreements:
- The collective agreement for bakery employees
- The collective agreement for meat industry employees
- The collective agreement for dairy employees
- The collective agreement for employees in the food industry (manufacturing)
- The collective agreement for employees in the brewing and soft drinks industry