Workplace Union Representatives Act

Workplace Union Representatives Act is closely linked with the Act on Co-determination at Work. The purpose of the Workplace Union Representatives Act is to give trade union representatives better security of employment, to strengthen their position at the workplace and to make it possible to have such conditions of work that allow them to carry out their trade union duties.

A trade union representative is defined as a person elected by his or her trade union organisation to represent the employees. Examples of trade union representatives are union liaison officers, trade union representatives on company boards, safety delegates, insurance advisors etc.
Trade union officials and others, for example, at a union branch may also be appointed as trade union representatives.

The trade union must inform both the trade union representative’s own employer and the employers at any other workplaces where the trade union representative is to be active that she/he has been appointed as a trade union representative.

Paid leave
The trade union representative is entitled to such leave as may be reasonable having regard to the assignment and the circumstances at the workplace. The definition of what can be regarded as reasonable is established in negotiations between the employer and the trade union organisation. The trade union has the priority right of interpretation.
The trade union representative is entitled to paid leave in connection with carrying out trade union work at the workplace.

Security of employment
The same security of employment under the Security of Employment Act, LAS, that applies to all employees, also applies to trade union representatives. In addition the trade union representative is protected against termination of employment as a result of his or her trade union work. If the organisation considers that she/he is needed at the workplace, the trade union representative also has priority with regard to continued employment in the event of cutbacks in operations at the workplace as a result of shortage of work.
The law also protects the trade union representative’s right to wages and other employment benefits.