What you get when you join
As a member of the UJF you are offered an extensive package of services that if bought separately and at full purchase price would far exceed the union sub. Membership entitles you to important financial security, such as if you lose your job or have legal problems.
Legal and collective agreement advice
The union has five ombudsmen in its unit handling collective agreements, which comes under the supervision of the union’s head of advocacy work. Four of them have legal training and one has a background in journalism.
As a UJF member you can receive advice from the ombudsmen on such things as legal issues concerning employment. You can also receive expert help on freedom of expression, copyright and contractual matters as well as other legal and collective agreement issues.
We help freelancers in recovering work payments and in negotiating contracts. We provide advice through one-on-one meetings, by phone, email and at a variety of training events.
We mediate in disputes concerning termination of employment. If necessary we represent union members in court. We have won about 90 per cent of our court cases. If you are not a union member and find you have to pay legal fees yourself, the costs can run to many times more than you annual UJF sub.
Our collective bargaining ombudsmen also negotiate collective agreements in the communications sector and monitor compliance with them.
Press card
UJF members receive a press card. You can use this as proof of profession in various situations. The card also allows you free access to museums, exhibitions, trade fairs and other events, including abroad.
Discounts
Our members can get discounts on hundreds of different products and services. The UJF is joined the Jäsenedut.fi (in Finnish) service. The service allows you to get discounts on things such as car hire, travel and hotel expenses, clothing and jewelry and gym membership fees
In addition, union members are offered a range of other discounts. These include discounts at Royal restaurants, Viking Line, Teboil and Long Play.
Member insurance
The Turva insurance company offers member insurance cover. This includes:
- travel insurance for holiday travel, covering e.g. expenses in the event of sickness while traveling abroad
- leisure time accident insurance
- professional liability and legal costs insurance, which insures against legal costs related to personal and property damage incurred at work and related to work
- union insurance, which applies to organisational tasks and events.
You can find out more from the union or the Turva member insurance webpage (in Finnish)
Unemployment fund
As a UJF member in employment you are also a member of the Finka unemployment fund (in Finnish). This provides income security for two years if you lose your job.
Holiday places
The UJF owns holiday cottages in Saariselkä and Vierumäki. Accommodation costs for members are much lower than the market price. We also disburse grants each year, allowing members to stay at our holiday places free of charge.
Our member associations also have holiday places, which offer their own members even more holiday options.
Training and other events
The UJF and its member associations hold dozens of training and other events and trips. These are generally available to members free of charge at a nominal fee. It is usually possible to apply for a grant to attend international events.
Support in the workplace
Many workplaces have union-trained shop stewards and occupational health a safety representatives. They are familiar with conditions in the workplace and assist union members with such things as local negotiations.
Journalisti magazine
Union membership includes a subscription to the trade magazine Journalisti, which appear 10 times a year.
Making a difference
As a UJF member you can also exert an influence on matters related to the profession. You may want to be a workplace shop steward, board member of your member association, a member of the UJF council or to take part in different expert working groups. Get to know your colleagues, learn new things, get involved in developing the profession and improve your own professional status.
Other things…
In the event of a strike UJF members receive a strike allowance to ease income pressures. We also disburse stipends, grants and awards. We further the interests of our members and our profession in many ways.
How can I join?
If you are in employment, complete the form here. (in Finnish)
Freelancers and entrepreneurs click here. (in Finnish)
If you are studying communications click here. (in Finnish)