The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions, usually referred to by the acronym SAK (; ) is the largest trade union confederation in Finland. Its member organisations have a total of more than one million members, which makes up about one fifth of the country's population.

History The other two Finnish trade unions confederations are the Finnish Confederation of Professionals (STTK) and the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland (AKAVA). The most important negotiating partner of the SAK is the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK, Elinkeinoelämän keskusliitto/Finlands Näringsliv) which represents the majority of Finnish employers.

The current SAK was founded in 1969 as the Finnish Federation of Trade Unions (SAK 1930–1969), controlled by SKDL and TPSL, and the Finnish Trade Union Federation (SAJ 1960–1969), controlled by the SDP, settled their disputes and merged into one. The SAK considers itself the continuation of the first Finnish central organisation, the Finnish Trade Union Federation (SAJ 1907–1930).

The SAK is generally supportive of the Social Democratic Party, and has spent money on advertisements backing the party. In 2007, advertisements it placed on behalf of the SDP were found to be defamitory, leading the SAK to withdraw them.SAK luopuu kohutuista televisiomainoksistaan . Helsingin Sanomat.SAK:n kohumainos toimi niin kuin pitikin. Taloussanomat.

Member unions

Current Union Abbreviation Founded Affiliated Membership (2020) Aviation Union IAU 1969 1969 3,939 Non Commissioned Officers Union* Aliupseeriliitto 1966 3,282 Border Security Union* RTU 2010 2010 2,540 Construction Trade Union Rakennusliitto 1924 1969 69,060 Customs Union* Tulliliitto 1906 882 Finnish Electrical Workers' Union Sähköliitto 1955 1969 34,663 Finnish Elite Athletes' Union SHU 2002 2012 1,625 Finnish Food Workers' Union SEL 1932 1969 30,047 Finnish Musicians' Union Muusikkojenliitto 1917 1974 3,605 Finnish Seafarers' Union SM-U 1916 1969 9,056 Finnish Social Democratic Journalists' Union SSSL 1907 1969 271 Finnish Transport Workers' Union AKT 1970 1970 43,509 General Union of Journalists YLL 1947 173 Industrial Union Teollisuusliitto 2018 2018 211,801 Paperworkers' Union Paperiliitto 1906 1969 33,826 Post and Logistics Union PAU 2005 2005 25,004 Prison Officers' Union* VVL 1895 1969 1,354 Public and Welfare Services Union JHL 2005 2005 181,881 Railway Union RAU 2018 2018 3,853 Service Union United PAM 2000 2000 207,334 Trade Union for Theatre and Media TeMe 1973 2007 5,007 Union of Foremen in Commerce* KEY 7,901

Unions marked with "*" are affiliated to the SAK through another union, but their membership is counted separately.

Former Union Abbreviation Founded Affiliated Reason not affiliated Year Air Transport Union 1957 1969 Merged into IAU 1969 Automobile and Machinery Union AKU ? Merged into Metalli 2003 Automobile and Transport Workers' Union ? 1969 Merged into AKT 1970 Business Union 1987 1987 Merged into PAM 2000 Caretakers' Union KL 1948 1969 Merged into PAM 2000 Chemical Union Kemia 1993 1993 Merged into TEAM 2009 Chemical Workers' Union KTL 1970 1970 Merged into Kemia 1993 Commercial Workers' Union 1917 1969 Merged into Business Union 1987 Finnish Air Transport Union 1969 Merged into IAU 1969 Finnish Automobile Workers' Union 1960 1969 Merged into AKT 1970 Finnish Bricklayers' Union 1905 1969 Merged into Construction Trade Union 1971 Finnish Cabin Crew Union SLSY 2002 Merged into AKT 2015 Finnish Divers' Union 1906 1969 Merged into Construction Trade Union 1969 Finnish Glass and Porcelain Workers' Union 1907 1969 Merged into Kemia 1994 Finnish Media Union VA 1894 1969 Merged into TEAM 2009 Finnish Miners' Union 1969 Merged into Metalli 1969 Finnish Police Union SPJL 1923 1969 Resigned 1984 Finnish Port Workers' Union 1969 Merged into AKT 1970 Finnish Ships' Officers' Union SLPL 1905 1972 Transferred to STTK 1989 Finnish Textile Mechanics' Union 1969 Merged into Teva 1989 Finnish General Workers' Union 1930 1969 Merged into Kemia 1970 General and Speciality Workers' Union YEA 1960 1969 Merged into Kemia and SEL 1970 Hotel and Restaurant Workers' Union HRHL 1933 1969 Merged into PAM 2000 Industrial Union TEAM TEAM 2010 2010 Merged into Industrial Union 2017 Joint Organisation of State Employees VTY 1921 1969 Merged into JHL 2005 Journalist Union 1947 1969 ? ? Mental Health and Disability Union 1969 Merged into KTV 1981 Metalworkers' Union Metalli 1930 1969 Merged into Industrial Union 2017 Municipal and Hospital Workers' Union 1963 1969 Merged into KTV 1971 Municipal Workers' Union KTV 1931 1969 Merged into JHL 2005 Organisation of State Employees 1969 ? ? Postal Officers' Union 1894 2003 Merged into PAU 2005 Postal Union 1906 1969 Merged into PAU 2005 Precious Metal Workers' Union 1906 1969 Merged into Metalli 1974 Railway Salaried Staff's Union Merged into RAU 2018 Railway Workers' Union RAUTL 1930 1996 Merged into JHL 2011 Rubber and Leather Workers' Union KNL 1930 1969 Merged into Kemia 1993 Rural Workers' Union SML 1945 1969 Merged into PEL 1993 Technical and Special Trades Union Tekeri 1970 1970 Merged into PAM 2000 Textile and Clothing Workers' Union Teva 1971 1971 Merged into Kemia 2004 Textile Workers' Union 1960 1969 Merged into Teva 1970 Union of Locomotive Drivers VML 1897 1995 Merged into RAU 2018 Union of Organising Officers JTL 1996 Wood and Allied Workers' Union PEL 1993 1993 Merged into Industrial Union 2017 Wood Workers' Federation PTTL 1960 1969 Merged into SPL 1973 Wood Workers' Union SPL 1930 1969 Merged into PEL 1993

Presidents 1969: Niilo Hämäläinen 1974: Pekka Oivio 1981: Pertti Viinanen 1990: Lauri Ihalainen 2009: Lauri Lyly 2016: Jarkko Eloranta

External links

References