General on the union

Union of the Border Guards is by the number of members the largest personnel organisation within the Finnish Border Guard. The total number of members in the Union of the Border Guards is approximately 2,100. Some 1,600 border and coast guards, officers, institute officers and specialised officers and civilian employees in active service belong to the union. The members also include over 500 pensioners who still receive membership benefits for having belonged to the Union of the Border Guards during  active service.

The union has members in all administrative units and personnel groups nationwide. The members belong to the Union of Border Guards through local associations. There are 13 local associations. The union membership fee is 1.1 % of taxable income and the  membership fee for a pensioner is 30 euros per year.

Union of the Border Guards is a member of the Federation of Salaried Employees Pardia, which belongs to the Finnish Confederation of Professionals STTK. The majority of employees working for the Finnish government are organised in Pardia. The total number of Pardia’s members is approximately 60 000, the majority of whom work in government agencies and public bodies and some of them in enterprises and companies. Significant Pardia member unions represent internal and external security, technical services, government service and administrative duties as well as university, research, transport and IT sectors.

The Union of Border Guards membership fee is 1.1 % of taxable income. The membership fee includes a membership fee for the unemployment fund, which covers the members in case of unemployment.

Objectives    

The most important objective of the Union of the Border Guards is to promote equally the position of its members in different professional groups in a way that the terms and conditions of employment of everybody employed by the Finnish Border Guard are competitive in the labour market.

The Union of Border Guards wants to develop the wage and salary system in the Finnish Border Guard so that every official is paid a just salary in relation to his or her duties, experience and skills. At the same time, opportunities for career advancement are to be safeguarded to all staff throughout their official careers.

The Union of Border Guards wants to develop the Finnish Border Guard to be the best and most attractive workplace in Finland.