The Council of the Union of Journalists in Finland (UJF) calls for Finnish freedom of expression, culture and democracy to be safeguarded by guaranteeing adequate operating opportunities for the media and cultural sectors. The UJF opposes proposals that would weaken the Finnish media. Information security is part of our national security. It is important toRead More
UJF President Hanne Aho has been elected for a third four-year term, for the period 2023–2026, by the UJF Council, which met 1 December in Helsinki. Aho has led the UJF as president since 2015. “The union works for its members and freedom of speech. I am proud to be able to continue this work”,Read More
Over the next four years, the UJF aims to safeguard the media’s operational conditions, strengthen the collective bargaining-based labour market and safeguard the negotiating mandate by developing union unity. These priorities are set out in the UJF’s action and finance programme for 2023-2026, adopted 1 December by the UJF Council. Quality media protects against falsehoodRead More
The UJF wants to see a collective bargaining agreement on pay and working conditions for self-employed workers. Last autumn, the EU Commission issued guidelines giving self-employed workers the right to collectively negotiate their pay and working conditions. This means that trade unions now also have the right to negotiate on behalf of freelancers. “We haveRead More
The UJF has called on Finland to take account of the tough situation facing journalists and media workers in Afghanistan and where possible to grant them visas to Finland. In an appeal sent today to Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, the union also points out the imperative for evacuations. The situation of human rights and freedomRead More
Union of Journalists in Finland is providing 15 000 euro to support Ukraine’s journalists and the country’s crucially important news media. The union stresses that during war accurate and reliable information is essential. “It’s important that journalists in Ukraine are allowed to do their vital work so that the world knows what is happening there,”Read More
The Supreme Court’s decision to acquit journalist and author Johanna Vehkoo of defamation charges against Oulu politician Junes Lokka is important and reassuring for freedom of expression, said UJF President Hanne Aho following the judgement, 11 January. The ruling overturns those of lower courts that imposed and upheld Vehkoo’s conviction over a private Facebook postRead More
Three journalists from the national daily Helsingin Sanomat have been charged today for publicising a security secret and attempting to do so. The charges are extremely serious for freedom of expression. Helsingin Sanomat published an article in December 2017 about the Defense Forces’ Intelligence Research Centre. The Finnish Constitution was being urgently amended at theRead More
The press freedom situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated rapidly from difficult to impossible under Taliban rule. New media regulations were introduced on September 19, placing restrictions on independent media and freedom of expression. The regulations stipulate, for instance, that stories “contrary to islam” cannot be published. The International Federation of Journalists condemned the coercive restrictions,Read More
(Trade Union News from Finland – Heikki Jokinen) Journalists from Afghanistan have arrived safely in Finland, say the Union of Journalists in Finland UJF. The Union accommodates them with their family members temporarily in flats the union owns. For security reasons, the Union cannot disclose yet how many people have arrived and how they gotRead More