History Milestones

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HistoryMilestones
New member groups join OAJ ie. college and
university teachers and adult education centre
teachers
OAJ receives negotiation rights from its
founding organisation. OAJ chooses to join
central union AKAVA
Once the teachers from institutions of Crafts
and Arts as well as teachers of the Deaf and
Blind joined, OAJ became a union which represents
the whole field of education
1973
1976
1985
1988
1991
1995

The elementary school teachers and high school
teachers form a joint organisation
The Association of Kindergarten Teachers in
Finland join OAJ
OAJ grows, vocational education teachers join,
ie. teachers from vocational, business education,
music and technical institutions become members
1877 Häme Elementary Schools Benefactors
Association 1893 Elementary School Teachers
Union
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OAJ 117 828 members 1.1.2009
1 744
6 907
58
18 218
SOOL
OAJ-YSI57 013
LTOL-BTLF12 869
OAO21 019
YLL
Veteranteachers
Opsia
FSL
Regional associationsvocational education
Regional associationsgeneral education
Local associations (297)
YSI-associations
Swedishassociations
Member-associations
Member-associations
Member-associations
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Opetusalan Ammattijärjestö OAJ

• Trade Union of Education in Finland
• Membership 117 828 from early childhood
  education to university teaching
• Members also include teacher students and veteran
  teachers
• Breakdown of the OAJ members by gender women 74
  , men 26
• Over 95 of the Finnish teachers are organised
  trade union members

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Defending the Interests of Teachers

• The OAJ is in charge of the safeguarding of
  teachers interests in Finland.
• It is the only trade union which conducts
  negotiations on the terms of the teachers
  employment contracts.
• Salaries and working hours, are determined in the
  collective agreement

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Akavas largestmember unions 1.1.2008
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Central Organisations
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Labour market parties involvedin the Incomes
Policy Agreement
Employers organisations
Employees organisations
16 000 enterprises 950 000 members
1 046 445 members, 22 member unions
424 000 employees 348 municipalites 193 joint
authorities
640 000 members 20 member unions
VTML
122 000 employees
540 000 members 33 member unions
KiSV
503 churches
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OAJ is in Charge of the Agreements

• Regarding the teaching profession
• The municipal collective agreement is negotiated
  between the OAJ and the Commission for Local
  Authority Employers
• Special agreement which is signed in the name of
  JUKO (Negotiation Organisation Public Sector
  Professionals)

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JUKO is the Main Partner in the Negotiations

• One of the four parties in the municipal and one
  of the three parties involved in the state-level
  negotiations
• 21 of the employees in the municipal sector are
  members of Akava (Confederation of Unions for
  Academic Professionals in Finland)

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OAJ accounts for One Third of Akava

• OAJ is the most important Akava member
  organisation
• Teachers constitute the largest professional
  group of Akavas public sector operations as well
  as is the largest individual professional group
  within Akava
• Akava membership 485 514 of which 117 828 are
  OAJ members

2008
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International Safeguarding of Teachers Interests

• Member of Education International, the world
  teacher organisation
• Member of ETUCE (European Trade Union Committee
  for Education) within the European Union
• Also an active member of NLS (Nordic Teacher
  organisation)
• Involved in cooperation projects with several
  African countries

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Operations Involving Students

• SOOL (Finnish Teacher Student Association)
• In charge of OAJs student-oriented operations
• Objective is to the develop teacher training as
  well as approve the situation and study
  conditions of the teacher students
• Membership 6 907

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Membership in OAJ is Worth While

• OAJ provides several advantages and benefits for
  its membership
• the services of the elected officials,
• the OAJ advice and consultation services,
• membership in the Teachers Unemployment Benefit
  Fund,
• various insurance benefits,
• the Opettaja periodical
• holiday and recreation services

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Speaker for education

• OAJ speaks for Finnish training and education
• Social dialogue with the goverment, parliament,
  ministries and the National Board of Education
• Social dialogue at municipal level
• OAJ has members in education working groups
  established by ministries etc.
• OAJ is working together with other unions and
  NGOs and parents
• OAJ is active in media

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Examples of OAJs aims in education

• Better and quality education for all
• Better working enviroment for teachers, students
  and pupils
• Children and students with special needs more
  resources and support in services
• More resources for education
• Regular inservice training system to teachers
• Higher education for all teachers
• Education top on list of political
  decision-making