Pam Magazine 7/13: Time to climb out of the foxholes

These women sure can make some noise. When asked by the photographer to shout, they almost take the roof off.

After the photo shoot they are less vocal but continue to express their views clearly. Jenny Mechelin, youth secretary of the Uusimaa trade union branch in the security industry exclaims:

– I want young people to climb out of the foxholes! I want to bring them together, to share our experiences and horror stories of how we are being treated by our employers.

In Mechelin's opinion, there is, generally speaking, plenty of room for improvement in the way employees are being treated, but in a male-dominated industry, women have to fight twice as hard for things male colleagues take almost for granted. For example, it is much easier for men to negotiate a pay rise than it is for women. Similarly, men find it easy to come by contracts with a monthly salary while women are typically offered hourly-based work.

Despite such grave injustices, this is more than a feminist issue for chairperson Minna Kaijanranta, vice chair Sari Hakala, publicist Saija Ahonen and Jenny Mechelin. Injustice in the workplace is taking its toll on men and women alike, and it's time to do something about it. When you first get people together to do something fun and give them the space to get to know each other, it will be easier for them to fight for a common cause.

Ahonen's comment aptly describes the reason why these women are engaged in trade union activities.

– I hope people will experience affinity; a sense of belonging together. Membership in a trade union branch offers an opportunity to work towards a common goal.

Hakala says it was her desire to help others that encouraged her join the branch.

Since the beginning of this year, key seats in the Board of "six-five-two" are – unprecedentedly – held by four women. As revolutionary as it sounds, it was simply all about filling vacant positions. The only position that required a vote before it could be filled was the youth secretary. The Board has eight members and four deputy members. Other members are Ville Siikanen, Toni Åman, Markku Sojakka and Torsti Toivola. The deputy members are Kalle Kyröhonka, Sami Enonkoski, Jani Laiho and Petri Kangasmäki.

The branch has almost 2,200 members.

With women strongly involved in decision-making, openness in the branch activities is increasing. The members bulletin is a good example: Ahonen came up with an idea to prepare a bulletin that provided information on upcoming events. The bulletin was also used to introduce the Board, with photographs, to members.

The branch is also an active Facebook user. "It's the norm today," Kaijanranta says, disputing any claims that Facebook is highly overrated.

Otherwise the offering is quite similar to that of the big branches. There's no shortage of events, if only people attended them.

And they will, if it's up to these women.

Tiina Ritala

The Board's e-mail address: 652hallitus@gmail.com.