JHL (08.06.2016 - Heikki Jokinen) Jarkko Eloranta was unanimously elected as the new President of SAK, the Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions. And Päivi Niemi-Laine will replace him as the JHL President.
In his speech to the SAK Congress in the city of Tampere Eloranta stressed that Finnish society is based on the ability to make agreements, and provide public services, social security and education.
”Even small cracks in the basic structure might under pressure grow into gaping holes. In the event of that happening the consequences could prove to be unpredictable and serious”, Eloranta said.
Eloranta also said that people working in new forms of work remain undectable under the trade union radar. Unions must get them on board and improve their situation, he said.
Jarkko Eloranta (born 1966) has been JHL President since November 2011.
Päivi Niemi-Laine (born 1968) is now the new JHL President. She has been working in JHL since 2009. And from 2012 she has been JHL Vice President and Chief Executive Officer.
As JHL President Niemi-Laine will concentrate all her efforts on public services and a more just society. These are crucial areas to address for the foreseeable future, she says. Jobs are also important. It is important that competent people in public services will be able to provide good services in the future also, she emphasises.
SAK with its 993 000 members is the strongest and most formidable of the three Finnish trade union confederations. It was established in Tampere in the year 1907.
JHL is a trade union for people working in the public services and private welfare services sectors. It has 225 000 members and 70 per cent of these are women.