What is SASK

SASK is the workers’ rights organisation of the trade unions of Finland. By empowering trade unions and building up their capacities SASK aims at enforcing of international labour rights, promoting decent work and living wages and thus supporting struggle against poverty and social inequality. 

By decent work, we mean that people should have access to regulated, safe and healthy work that guarantees a living wage. As far as the core labour standards are concerned, we refer to the International Labour Organization ILO.

ILO Core Labour Standards Include:

• Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining
• Elimination of forced labour
• Effective abolition of child labour
• Elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation
• Safe and healthy working environment.

ILO states clearly that labour rights are human rights. The work of SASK is based on the same idea.

Where we work

SASK has dozens of development cooperation projects in

• South and Southeast Asia (India, Nepal, Indonesia, The Philippines)
• Africa (multiple countries)
• Latin America (Colombia, Brazil, Guatemala).

Our partners are usually Global Union Federations and trade unions.

How we work

Our aim is to promote decent work and living wages for everyone. We support the reduction of poverty and inequality by strengthening the trade union movement and the position of workers in developing countries through our development ccoperation programme.

We support the UN sustainable development goals of eliminating absolute poverty and reducing relative poverty globally. Relative poverty can be reduced through collective agreements and social policies that enable the working population to gain their share of national development and wealth. Poverty and inequality are also reduced by promoting social inclusion and increasing people’s opportunities to take an active part in social processes.

Trade unionism is a sustainable tool for improving the opportunities of the working population to influence social policies and to reduce inequality. That is why SASK works with the trade union movement, and research and training organisations that support its goals.

SASK was founded by the Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions SAK and its affiliated unions in 1986. Since then, SASK has become a widely representative solidarity body of the Finnish trade union movement with two central organisations and 34 national federations as affiliated members.

Code of Ethics

SASK’s Code of Ethics (pdf) guides all its operations, procedures, and organisational culture. SASK expects all actors to adhere to the Code of Ethics, to set an example for others, and to inform if the Code of Ethics is violated.

Do you suspect misconduct?

Contact us

Trade Union Solidarity Centre of Finland SASK
Address: Hämeentie 19 A, 00500 Helsinki, Finland

Juska Kivioja
Executive Director
+358 50 581 4372
juska.kivioja@sask.fi

SASK Board 2023–2024

Chairmen of the Board

Kokko Ismo, Finnish Transport Workers’ Union AKT (chairman)
Haikonen Jaakko, STTK (vice-chairman)
Piirainen Marko, The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK (vice-chairman)

Members (in alphabetical order)

Arnkil Jenni, Trade Union of Education OAJ
Hakkarainen Mikko, Industrial Union
Koivuniemi Sari, Union of Health and Social Care Professionals in Finland Tehy
Koskenheimo Hanna, Trade Union Jyty
Koskinen Matti, Trade Union Pro
Kreutzman Nina, The Finnish Construction Trade Union
Haapalainen Susanna, Trade Union for Public and Welfare Sectors in Finland JHL
Ylitalo Jaana, The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK

Supplementary Members

Väänänen Lea, Finnish Food Workers’ Union SEL
Holstila Ansku, Social Science Professionals
Björkbacka Pia, The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK
Häggman Maria, STTK