Service Union
United PAM defends, in earnest,
rights of immigrant labour
Helsinki (21.09.2009 - Juhani Artto) Service Union United PAM
had, at the end of 2008, almost 3,600 rank and file members whose mother language was
other than any of the domestic language in Finland: Finnish, Swedish or Sami. Russian
speakers represented the largest foreign language group, with 1,112 members. The other
large language groups were made up of Estonian speakers (655 members), English speakers
(448), Thai speakers (125) and Chinese speakers (120). In PAM more than 50 languages were
spoken as mother tongues.
Members, coming from a foreign background, represented less than 1.7 per cent of the
union's total membership (213,380) but the union regards defence of their rights as very
important. New evidence of this became public in August when the union approved its first
immigration policy programme. In it the union systematically registers what it has, since
its grounding in 2000, done and what now are the central tasks in defending the rights of
the immigrant labour.
"Regardless of the reasons for immigration, the starting point must be human and equal relations for immigrants", as
outlined in PAM's programme.
Another important definition is this: "The primary challenge is to employ unemployed
and under-employed Finns and the immigrants who already live in Finland." However,
noteworthy as that it is, simultaneously, PAM is not against the arrival of more immigrant
labour in Finland.
But the condition is the same collective agreements and official regulations must apply to
immigrant labour as to the Finns. There is the need to enlarge the rights of trade unions
to safeguard the interests of immigrant labour, PAM stresses. Concretely, PAM, together
with other Finnish union organisations, demands changes in the legislation to allow the
unions to bring class actions to the attention of the courts.
PAM's daily work for the immigrant labour consists of publishing foreign
language materials, the training of PAM's personnel and shop stewards in immigrant labour
issues and organising foreign-background employees. PAM estimates that over 16,000
immigrants work in the private service sector. Thus less than one in four has joined PAM.
PAM's serious attitude towards the interests of immigrant labour is evidenced by the fact
that almost 20 per cent of disputes (with employers)
where PAM has defended the interests of its rank and file members have concerned members
who have a foreign background.
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