Contents

• International Membership
• Becoming a Member
• Membership Fees
• Members' Rights
• Information and Contacts
• Tatte Activities
• Useful links

Remember to inform about
the change of your address or name and
change of your email address to tatte email list

Contact Information

Tampere University Association of
Researchers and Teachers (Tatte ry.)
FIN-33014 University of Tampere

tel. +358-(0)3-2156111
e-mail (executive board) assari@uta.fi
WWW URL http://www.uta.fi/jarjestot/tatte/
contact information of the members of the executive board

Useful links

• Finnish Union of University
  Researchers and Teachers
• Teachers' Unemployment Benefit
  Society [in Finnish only]
• AKAVA - Confederation of Unions
  for Academic Professionals
• Education International
• European Trade Union
  Committee for Education

• University Finland
• Living in Europe (Information about
  studying and doing research
  in another EU country)
• Citizen's guide
• Social Security in Finland
  (KELA/SII)
• Finnish Taxation System
• The Federation of Unemployment
  Insurance Funds

• Virtual Finland
• Tampere Region
• Weather in Finland
• The Finnish Sauna

Tatte in English, 10/98 Joel Kuortti

International Membership

University research and teaching in Finland has become more and more international. New contacts, contracts and projects have brought new scholars and specialists to work in Finland. This has meant new challenges for examples for trade unions which have previously worked first and foremost at national level. This is also true of the largest university sector union, the Finnish Union of University Researchers and Teachers (FUURT) of which Tampere University Association of Researchers and Teachers (Tatte) is a member.

One of the main challenges is in providing information to and consultation for foreign members and applicants. For this purpose, we are taking steps to bring out basic material on members' rights and duties. Some of the material is rather general by nature, as more specific and detailed information can be obtained from the Tatte representatives. Some of the matters also vary according to whether or not one is an EU citizen.

Becoming a Member

To become a member of Tatte you need to fill in an application. These can be obtained from the membership secretary.

The field of research, teaching and information work is heterogeneous. There are many sorts of jobs and even more titles for the workers, and there are thus also various groups of individual members belonging to the member associations. There are also other Unions into which people are organized. If you are not certain about where you belong to, do not hesitate to ask the association representatives.

Tatte, together with with FUURT and its other member associations, watches over the legal and social interests and pay development of persons engaged in research, teaching and information work. This it does in cooperation with other Unions working within the same field.

For collective bargaining, negotiating and lobbying, FUURT is a member of AKAVA, the Confederation of Unions for Academic Professionals in Finland, one of the three central labour organisations.

Membership Fees

All members pay fees to their member association. The size of the fees is agreed on annually. In 1998 the fees are 1.05 % of one's wages (if you work on a regular basis), or 4 € per month (if you are unemployed, on maternity leave, etc.). Those with regular wages can authorize the employer to deduct their fees from their pay; forms for this are available from the membership secretary. Others receive bank giro receipts with which they take care of the fees. Members of FUURT are entitled to membership in the Teachers' Unemployment Benefit Society. These income-based unemployment benefits can be collected only if the fees have been duly paid.

Members' Rights

Tatte membership guarantees certain benefits. Among other things, we safeguard our members' legal and social rights at the workplace and provide assistance in work-related matters. Benefits from the Teachers' Unemployment Benefit Society, the Acatiimi magazine, and various other privileges are also included.

To make all this possible, there is first of all the system of shop stewards maintained by the central organisation AKAVA through its negotiation organ AKAVA-JS. These stewards provide a link between the employee and the employer to negotiate on matters relating to individual and collective conditions of employment contracts. This is an essential system for watching over members' rights. Should problems or questions arise, you should contact our chief shop steward ("pääluottamusmies") Tapio Rissanen.

The elected officials of Tatte give their assistance and support on a voluntary basis. As specialists of our institution, they should be able to find a suitable channel for you to take forward your initiatives or problems. FUURT's office in Helsinki sees to individual members' matters as much as it can. It has a contract with a law firm for urgent legal matters. FUURT officials also provide negotiation help for us when necessary.

The Teachers' Unemployment Benefit Society handles matters of those members who are entitled to unemployment benefits, that is, who have, first of all, received wages regularly, and, secondly, have also been paying union membership fees for a sufficient time (10 months). In general, a scholarship does not entitle a member to unemployment benefit. For those not insured by the Society there is the Central Pension Security Institute (KELA), which sees to several benefit matters from pensions to unemployment benefits.

Thinking of pensions, your future pension does not accrue from work on a scholarship. Therefore, those who expect to rely on grants for a long time may also want to consider taking up a personal insurance policy securing old-age livelihood.

Information and Contacts

General information on matters such as work permits, immigration, refugee status, equality, work safety, sickness benefit, taxation and other work-related matters is best available from the relevant sources: the Ministry of Labour, Directorate of Immigration, the police, tax offices, the Agency for Welfare and Health, occupational safety district inspectors, and so on.

The main information channel between the Union and its individual members is the Acatiimi magazine. Acatiimi is published jointly by FUURT, the Union of Professors, and the Union of University Lecturers. The magazine covers general matters as well as more detailed issues concerning collective negotiations, developments within the university sector, and new challenges to the members. It also offers an open forum for comments and discussion.

Tatte sends letters to the members at least twice a year. These letters offer some basic information about urgent matters as well as invite everybody to the general meetings. Tatte is also in the Internet. It is the place to look for when you want to find something about future events, recent developments, and contact information. Also FUURT has its web pages at http://www.tieteentekijoidenliitto.fi/, containing some information about the Union. The site is still under construction, but it offers at least quick access to contact information and links to other member associations' web sites.

Tatte Activities

The highest authority in Tatte is held by the General Meeting. Tatte holds its meetings twice a year, in spring and in autumn. All members are eligible to attend these meetings. The Autumn Meeting elects the members of the Executive Board, which manages the affairs of the Union. The Spring Meeting investigates the legitimacy of the Board's decisions during the previous year.

The best way to influence the activities is to be an active member and to take an interest in collective matters. Participation and initiatives are welcome.