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A collective bargaining result was reached at the university sector on March 22, 2020. The content can now be published after all negotiating parties have accepted the result. The new collective agreement is in effect for 24 months, from April 1, 2020 until March 31, 2022.

The negotiations regarding the private education sector between OAJ and the Finnish Education Employers were finalised last night as the parties were able to agree on a solution. At the same time, an agreement concerning teachers at adult education centres was reached. This solution applies to more than 8,000 members of the OAJ.

Basic education, upper secondary education, adult education and higher education units are switching to distance learning in order to slow down the spreading of the coronavirus. The educational institutions will switch to remote teaching latest on 18 March in accordance with the Ministry of Education and Culture’s recommendation. OAJ stands by the Government’s policy and regards the ensuring of the teachers’ health and livelihood as extremely important during such exceptional circumstances.

As with all other sectors of the society, the coronavirus epidemic is causing changes to the currently on-going collective agreement negotiations. The negotiations are on-going in all OAJ agreement sectors and the changing situation is monitored on a daily basis.

Let's get on thing straight: a teacher’s job does not stop when the classes are over. Teaching entails a constant interaction with students, parents or carers, and psychosocial risks are widespread among the profession. Education trade unions are a powerful and democratic voice for teachers, so we must take the lead in improving teacher wellbeing, says Susan Flocken, European Director of ETUCE.

Nordic’s leading teaching and education sector event Educa brings over 500 guests from abroad to follow the whole new international programme. OAJ published a video in which 18 Finnish teachers reveal their superpowers.

OAJ’s demand that the salary level of highly educated groups working in the public sector must be corrected using a salary programme is supported by public opinion. Around nine in ten Finns think that a salary of about EUR 3,000 a month is suitable for recently graduated class teachers.

Nordic’s leading teaching and education sector event Educa is expanding with a new international programme package in January 2020.

The collective agreements of 84,000 OAJ-members will end in a little over three months on 31 March, 2020. OAJ is going to be busy in the upcoming spring because we will be negotiating a new agreement for you. It’s great to be able to roll up our sleeves and do what is the core of a trade union: look after your interests.

This autumn is big for the education policy. After the Finnish parliamentary elections, the cuts to education funding are finally over. Here is a brief summary of the current events in the Finnish education policy.

The survey reveals the views of YLL’s members on salaries, work loads and well-being at work. What is positive is that more than 70% of the members who responded enjoy their work, are satisfied with their own work, develop in their work and feel that their competence is getting stronger. There is, however, a lot that needs to be developed and improved in working conditions, work planning and salary issues. This becomes clear from the responses.

Teacher’s profession is one of the most important ones in the world.

The Trade Union of Education in Finland, OAJ, is an independent trade union, not linked to any political party, with ca. 120,000 members. Every 9 out 10 teachers in Finland is a OAJ member. OAJ is the sixth largest trade union in the country.

I hope this ISTP has helped us all to understand, that the top countries in education have not attained their status by chance, but by investing in education and the teaching profession.