The highest decision-making body of the UJF, the Council, met remotely for its spring session from 20 to 21 May 2021. The meeting dealt with matters ranging from the rules of teleworking to government support for the media, EU copyright rules, occupational health for freelancers, the work of the Mediakunta cooperative, solidarity with journalists inRead More
The Council of the Union of Journalists in Finland, meeting 21 May, voiced its deep concern for its colleagues in Belarus and condemns the increasing persecution of journalists and the media by the Belarusian government and authorities. The situation came to a head this week when the Tut.by news, media and service internet portal, theRead More
Helsinki (29.04.2021 – Heikki Jokinen) Targeting, harassment or cyberbullying are an unfortunate reality for many people due to their work. The problem is growing, and the unions are working to help victims both in a practical way and through political action. Problems occur in many jobs: from supermarket cashier to police and journalists. In 2019, Read More
The Nordic countries top the global Press Freedom Index published 20 April by Reporters Without Borders. However, press freedom has deteriorated around the world, particularly in Europe. Only 12 European countries can claim to offer a favourable environment for journalism, fewer than ever before. Germany, for example, dropped from the top group because of repeatedRead More
The UJF premiered, 23 March, a documentary programme on the history of the union to mark the hundredth anniversary of the creation of the journalists union and held a discussion attended virtually by some 350 union members. The programme was made for the union by Gimmeyawallet Productions. The documentary, a 13-minute fast paced overview ofRead More
The Union of Journalists in Finland has appealed to the Finnish government to exert pressure on Belarus to release imprisoned journalists and withdraw criminal charges against journalists. The union is also concerned about cases of persecution, torture and ill-treatment taking place in Belarus. The UJF has sent the appeal to Prime Minister Sanna Marin andRead More
The Union of Journalists has voiced clear support for the European Commission’s plans to develop the collective bargaining right of self-employed workers. The union issued a response to the EU initaitive in early February that stresses the need to revamp EU legislation to ensure that collective bargain rights are extended to self-employed people, which inRead More
The UJF has strongly condemned the concerted attack on 16 February by Belarusian security forces on a number of the country’s journalists and journalists’ organisations. State security officials pretending to be police officers, swooped on the home of Andrei Bastunets, the chair of the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) and arrested him. BAJ press secretaryRead More
Helsinki (10.02.2021 – Heikki Jokinen) The Finnish multinational forest company UPM announced on 8 February that it will no longer engage in any kind of collective agreements at any level for salaried employees in Finland. All terms of work will be negotiated on an individual basis.
On December 25, Russian Duma approved a law that allows for ordinary citizens and informal organizations to be deemed “foreign agents” if they are involved in political activity in Russia and receive assistance from abroad. The new law refers to more than just financial assistance and offers a broad interpretation of what constitutes political activity.Read More