JHL (8.1.2013 - Heikki Jokinen) At the turn of the year JHL opened a special information exchange channel on their web pages for their members working in the municipal sector. It collects information on what kind of plans the municipalities have regarding the reorganising of their services. The idea is to involve union activists in gathering relevant and useful information, which can then be made available to other activists.
"At the moment there is a lot happening in the municipalities and JHL wants to be able to influence decision making within these municipalities", says planning officer Leena Peltoniemi from the JHL office. The new information channel seeks to collect information on what happens and where. "The goal is to be able to influence municipal service production at as early a stage as possible."
The information in the channel comes not only from head office but also from union activists around the country. Shop stewards, board members of local JHL chapters and other activists can share information about what is being planned in their own municipality and on what has been done already.
On these pages there are a number of topic headings to be perused such as outsourcing, privatisation, social enterprises, service vouchers and buying back municipal services. All union members can enter the information channel with their personal membership number.
The information channel can offer relevant and essential knowledge when it comes to comparing the situation between various municipalities. It can also make it easier for JHL activists to network with each other and get information with regard to different kinds of alternative solutions.