Why join the Union of Professional Engineers in Finland

Membership in the Union of Professional Engineers in Finland is obtained through a member organization. The union membership fee consists of the union fee and the member organization’s fee, which varies depending on the organization. It is easy to add membership of the KOKO Unemployment Fund to the union membership if you are employed.  

Discounts on membership fees  

The union membership fee is flexible, adapting to changes in life circumstances. Members can apply for a discount if they have no income for at least one full calendar month or if they have an exceptionally low income, are living abroad, or are studying full-time. Members can thus benefit from all the union’s services and benefits regardless of their life situation. Learn more about discounts.

Union membership includes the opportunity to receive legal advice, assistance in settlement negotiations, and, if necessary, legal representation in court for work-related or employment-related disputes. Legal aid provided by the Union of Professional Engineers in Finland is free of charge for members and financially risk-free in cases initiated by the union.  

If a non-member seeks legal services for employment disputes from an external provider, the initial consultation alone could cost €349. Learn more about the legal assistance offered by the union to its members.  

Salary statistics. The annual salary statistics published by the Union of Professional Engineers in Finland are based on the salary data of thousands of engineers and technical experts. These statistics are available on the members’ website, and a 16-page printed publication is included in the February issue of the union’s magazine. The salary statistics are accessible to members year-round via the Member pages. This valuable data is shared exclusively with members.  

Salary Counter. By entering their graduation year, job role, and employer details into the Salary Counter available on the Member Pages, members can receive a salary estimate based on their input. The figures provided by the Salary Counter are based on statistical models derived from the union’s labor market research data, which is updated annually. This service is exclusively for members and requires logging in to the Member pages.

The insurance package provided by the Union of Professional Engineers in Finland through Turva includes travel insurance for leisure time, accident insurance for leisure, luggage insurance, travel liability insurance, and travel legal expenses insurance. For instance, travel insurance covering trips longer than one month, including baggage insurance, would cost €160 separately. Union members always have valid travel insurance. Learn more about the insurance package.  

Union members can obtain a housing loan from Danske Bank without handling or arrangement fees. For example, the savings on a €200,000 loan amount to €1,200. Additionally, members receive a lower margin and interest-free periods without extra charges. Learn more about banking benefits for members.  

The Union of Professional Engineers in Finland organizes professional training sessions and webinars tailored to technical experts. It also offers career coaching for job seekers. In addition to its own programs, the union provides access to renowned training companies’ courses. Most training opportunities are entirely free for members. Read more about the union’s education and training.  

The Union of Professional Engineers in Finland has an agreement with Eversheds Law office for telephone consultations regarding private legal matters of members. This free service also extends to family members living in the same household. Members can seek advice on issues such as inheritance, wills, prenuptial agreements, division of property, and gifts.  

The Union of Professional Engineers in Finland specializes in career coaching for technical experts, with many webinars available on-demand in the archive. The goal is to ensure applicants have excellent job application materials and succeed in video interviews. Personalized guidance is also available. The KOKO unemployment fund handles financial security during unemployment.  Read more about unemployment.

The Union of Professional Engineers in Finland and its member organizations provide rental cottages across Finland at a discount of 30–50% for members. Akava union members can also rent cottages from other unions via a shared membership benefit service (Member plus service).  Holiday apartments are available from northern ski resorts to southern coastal scenery.  

Many conditions impacting employees’ positions are negotiated better through collective agreements than stipulated by law. While the law defines minimum conditions for employment not governed by collective agreements, collective agreements often provide enhanced rights. These include mileage allowances, vacation return bonuses, annual general salary increases, paid family leave, and 1–2 months of sick pay. More information is available on the YTN website (only in finnish).