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PAM in brief

Service Union United PAM is a trade union for people working in private service sectors. Our union has 190,000 members, two thirds of whom are women. Most of our members work in retail, the hotel, restaurant and leisure industry, property services and security services.

We negotiate collective agreements for service sectors. We improve the impact of employees on work, the workplace community, safety at work and business development. We promote democracy, fairness and social security nationally and internationally.

PAM safeguards its members’ interests

  • We bring together and unite workers in service sectors.
  • We provide our members with support and security in working life.
  • We negotiate collective agreements for service sectors and monitor their implementation.
  • We influence labour legislation.
  • We promote union representatives’ lobbying and other activities in the workplace.

PAM in figures

190 000

members

20 000

new members in 2022

71 %

women

25 %

aged under 31

2 136

union representatives

117

local branches

33

collective agreements

152

employees

Our values

Our aim is a society where everyone has the right to work and an opportunity for a safe and good life, and where those in the most vulnerable position are cared for.

A safe and good life
Everyone has the right to a sufficient income, good working conditions, a healthy living environment and well-balanced leisure time.

Fairness
Fairness means equality, non-discrimination, solidarity, mutual respect and freedom. We promote these values in working life and in society as a whole.

Equality
Working life does not treat everyone equally, which is why it’s our duty to defend those in the most vulnerable position. We serve as their voice and shield and strengthen their ability to represent themselves.

Sustainable development
Our aim is a world where people, the environment and the economy are considered equally in decision-making. We work to ensure that people will continue to have the opportunity to lead a full life in a safe and clean environment in the future.

Our vision

  • Service sector professionals work in successful and attractive industries. They can affect their work, as well as the decisions made and development carried out in their workplace.
  • Collective agreements determine the minimum terms of employment for all workers in service sectors. This minimum level ensures a sufficient level of income and enables appropriate working conditions. Local agreements further improve terms of employment and working conditions in the workplace.
  • Companies operate in a socially and ecologically responsible manner. Companies accept that all employees, regardless of their profession and nationality, have the right and the opportunity to join a trade union and negotiate their terms of employment.
  • Workers in service sectors have good basic skills and the opportunity to develop and maintain their expertise through training provided by employers. This training is the same for everyone, regardless of the workers’ educational background and status.
  • Workers in service sectors are active members of society. They can rely on the fact that the safety networks in society are comprehensive and effective.
  • An increasing number of people can also rely on a union representative with a good capacity and strong support for their work.
  • Everyone has the right to a sufficient income, good working conditions, a healthy living environment and well-balanced leisure time.

PAMin hallinto

Governance at PAM

Held every four years, the Union Congress is the highest decision-making body at PAM. The Union Congress determines the union’s goals and adopts its action programme. The Union Congress elects

At the Union Congress, decisions are made by members of the union who have been elected as representatives before the congress.

The Union Congress assesses the union’s operations and direction and decides on future activities by setting an agenda of goals. It elects people to serve in the administration and positions of trust in the union. It also deals with initiatives submitted by local branches.

Attendees of the Union Congress are elected from among the members

The number of representatives at the Union Congress is proportionate to the number of members: one representative for every 600 members in an electoral district or remaining factor thereof. The representatives are elected in the Union Congress elections. All members except student and pensioner members and holders of salaried positions in the union have the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in the elections.

The next Union Congress will be held in Jyväskylä on 24 to 26 October 2023. 

Council

The Council exercises decision-making power at PAM in matters that do not fall under the decision-making power of the Union Congress or the Executive Committee based on the rules of the union or the law. The Council decides on:

The Council convenes twice a year, and its term of office is four years. The spring meeting is held in May–June, and the autumn meeting in November–December. The members of the Council are elected at the Union Congress. They represent members of PAM from different parts of Finland and different professions.

The Council consists of the Chair, two Vice Chairs, 50 members and 10 general deputy members.

Each member of the Council has three personal deputy members. The members are elected taking into account the regions, professions and membership structure.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee guides the practical work of the union. It is responsible for the progress of the implementation of the decisions made by the Union Congress and for managing the union’s operations.

The Executive Committee:

The Executive Committee selects the union’s Executive Director and holders of supervisory positions and appoints its Management Group. It is also responsible for the implementation of the Union Congress elections.

The Executive Committee has 11 meetings per year on average. Its term of office is four years.

The members of the Executive Committee are elected by the Union Congress. The Executive Committee consists of the Chair (Union President), her or his personal deputy member, 15 members and three general deputy members.

If changes need to be made to the composition of the Executive Committee between Union Congresses, the election is made by the Council.

The members of the Executive Committee participate in Council meetings and are involved in local planning in their respective regions. Some members of the Executive Committee are also members of the sector commissions in their respective fields.

Union President

The Chair of the Executive Committee serves as PAM’s Union President. The Union President is elected at the Union Congress, which is held every four years. The Union President is a full-time employee, and a personal deputy member is elected for her or him.

The Union President presides over the Executive Committee, which:

Annika Rönni-Sällinen has served as the Union President since 2019. Before that, she served as a negotiations manager at PAM and a department manager at SAK, among other positions.

Union rules

Service Union United PAM is a trade union for people working in private service sectors. Its name is Palvelualojen ammattiliitto PAM ry in Finnish and Servicefacket PAM rf in Swedish.

In the rules, PAM is referred to as “the union”, and its local branches are referred to as “branches”.

The union is domiciled in Helsinki and operates across Finland. Its languages are Finnish and Swedish. The language of its minutes is Finnish.

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