IOL in English

Why join a trade union?

Trade unions promote and watch over interests and benefits of their members.

For example, a trade union negotiates on behalf of their members collective agreements with employer organizations. The minimum conditions and terms of employment are defined in collective agreements.

A  Without efforts of trade unions, several rights and benefits – like a five-day work week, salary increases, overtime pays, five-week holidays, paternity leave and protection against dismissal – would just be only dreams.

The power of a trade union is in its members. The more a trade union has members, the more it has power and influence when negotiating with employer unions. Employers are also organized. This is the reason why employees and students should be organized their own union, too.  

As a member of a trade union, your benefits are secured also individually. If you have any issues concerning your employment or difficulties with your employer, legal counsels of our union are at your service.

Some facts about IOL

Engineering students and students in some other technical field who study at Universities of Applied Sciences are eligible to join IOL. The Finnish Union of Engineering Students was founded in 1955 and it has about 17 000 members. IOL is an affiliated member of Uusi Insinööriliitto, (Union of Professional Engineers in Finland), UIL.

The foundation of IOL´s functions are 27 local member associations. One in every city where technical education at Universities of Applied Sciences is available. All operations are run by students and IOL has hundreds of active students all around Finland. In addition, IOL has seven paid employees working at the mainoffice in Helsinki and two employees working in the provinces.

IOL is the oldest and the most appreciated student association its field. Our mission is to help students to secure their rights and benefits as early as during their studies. Whether it is the matter of employment during studies, practical training, applying a job, contract of employment or payroll, we will help you. Career planning and career management services are of great benefit to our members, too..

IOL keeps up and develops engineering student culture and its traditions. Different kind of events and happenings which gather together students all around Finland, are one part of our work. By joining IOL, you can promote engineering student`s position and have some fun at the same time.

Student member, what does it mean?

When you join our union, you will actually become a member of our local association. As a student member, you are able to attend different kind of events and courses in which you can hear more about the ground rules of working in Finland. Employment contracts for students can be quite tricky. That is why students should get to know their rights as early as at the beginning of the studies. For IOL members the events/courses are free of charge (incl. traveling, meals and accommodation).

All student members get the same benefits as members of UIL (Union of Professional Engineers in Finland) and the Confederation of Unions for Academic Professionals in Finland (AKAVA). These benefits include, among other things, advising in labour legislation and pay policy, legal counseling, comprehensive insurance coverage and several other member benefits and discounts.

IOL´s membership fee is 30 € for the whole study period (max. 5 years). Check out from the next page what you will get for your money!

Professional engineer member, what does it mean?

After your graduation, your membership will continue at UIL. For an engineer the membership in UIL is an axiom. The branch in which you work, does not matter. What kind of duties or what is the scope of your collective agreement does not matter either. Your membership in UIL expresses your pride over engineering studies and practice. The amount of members in UIL is about 70 000. The biggest change in recent times concerning the membership of UIL has been that the Association of IT sector employees (Tietoalan toimihenkilöt ry) has affiliated UIL. We can now also promote the interests of information service sector employees, too.

After your graduation you normally join UIL and your membership fee will change. The fee consists of three different parts: the union fee, the membership fee of your local association and the fee of the unemployment fund. The membership fee is tax-deductible income for you.

When you join IOL during your studies, you will get 70 % discount of UIL`s membership fee from the first year and 50 % discount from the second year pay.
Remember to inform your graduation by calling to UIL´s Membership register tel +358 20 693 877 or by email to the address: jasentietopalvelu(at)uil.fi

Join IOL today!

If you are an engineering student, IOL is the right union for You! The earlier on during your studies you join, the more you can take advantage of your member benefits. This is why you should join right now.
• IOL´s membership fee is only 30 € of the whole studing period
•  If you want to join the IAET-unemployment fund at the same time IAET`s membership fee is 78 € per year )
• Membership fees are tax-deductible
•  After graduation you can get discount on UIL`s membership fees