SASK is the workers’ rights organisation of the trade unions of Finland. By empowering trade unions and building up their capacities SASK aims at enforcing of international labour rights, promoting decent work and living wages and thus supporting struggle against poverty and social inequality.
By decent work, we mean that people should have access to regulated, safe and healthy work that guarantees a living wage. As far as the core labour standards are concerned, we refer to the International Labour Organization ILO.
ILO Core Labour Standards Include:
- Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining
- Elimination of forced labour
- Effective abolition of child labour
- Elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation
- Safe and healthy working environment.
ILO states clearly that labour rights are human rights. The work of SASK is based on the same idea.
Where do we work?
SASK has dozens of development cooperation projects in
- South and Southeast Asia (India, Nepal, Indonesia, The Philippines)
- Africa (multiple countries)
- Latin America (Colombia, Brazil, Guatemala).
Our partners are usually Global Union Federations and trade unions.
How do we work?
Our aim is to promote decent work and living wages for everyone. We support the reduction of poverty and inequality by strengthening the trade union movement and the position of workers in developing countries through our development ccoperation programme.
We support the UN sustainable development goals of eliminating absolute poverty and reducing relative poverty globally. Relative poverty can be reduced through collective agreements and social policies that enable the working population to gain their share of national development and wealth. Poverty and inequality are also reduced by promoting social inclusion and increasing people’s opportunities to take an active part in social processes.
Trade unionism is a sustainable tool for improving the opportunities of the working population to influence social policies and to reduce inequality. That is why SASK works with the trade union movement, and research and training organisations that support its goals.
SASK was founded by the Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions SAK and its affiliated unions in 1986. Since then, SASK has become a widely representative solidarity body of the Finnish trade union movement with two central organisations and 34 national federations as affiliated members.
Code of Ethics
SASK’s Code of Ethics (pdf) guides all its operations, procedures, and organisational culture. SASK expects all actors to adhere to the Code of Ethics, to set an example for others, and to inform if the Code of Ethics is violated.
Do you suspect misconduct?
If you suspect misconduct in SASK’s operations, use this online form to express your concern or suspicion of misconduct.
We take all misconduct and suspicions of misconduct seriously. If you so wish, you can express your concern anonymously.
Need our logo?
You can download SASK logos here. A zip file contains logos in different formats.
Contact us
Trade Union Solidarity Centre of Finland SASK
Address: Hämeentie 19 A, 00500 Helsinki, Finland
Janne Ronkainen
Executive Director
+358 40 776 8557
janne.ronkainen@sask.fi
International operations
Juha Vauhkonen
Head of International Operations
Core labour rights
Living wages
+358 45 139 7119
juha.vauhkonen@sask.fi
Tarja Valtonen
Specialist,
Gender equality &
non-discrimination
+358 40 541 0107
tarja.valtonen@sask.fi
Anna Perttula
Specialist,
Just transition
+358 40 541 6155
anna.perttula@sask.fi
Camilla Lohenoja
Specialist,
Digitalisation and
the new forms of work
+358 45 206 6840
camilla.lohenoja@sask.fi
Regional Representatives
Simião Simbine
Regional Representative, Africa
Maputo, Mozambique
+258 82 3008534
simiao.simbine@sask.fi
Address
Rua da Imprensa, 256 – Sobrelojano 5, Predio 33 andares Maputo, Moçambique
Patricio Sambonino Rivera
Regional Representative, Latin America
Quito, Ecuador
+593 9974 74408
patricio.sambonino@sask.fi
Farizan Fajari
Regional Representative, Asia
Jakarta, Indonesia
+62 815 1623 634
farizan.fajari@sask.fi
Administration
Ville Hirsikangas
Head of Finance
+358 50 3367584
ville.hirsikangas@sask.fi
Heli Kallio
Administrative Assistant
+358 44 751 8817
heli.kallio@sask.fi
Kirsi Salminen
Accountant
Bookkeeping and payments
+358 40 5412 934
kirsi.salminen@sask.fi
Milla Leppänen
Quality and Impact Officer
+358 50 4839984
milla.leppanen@sask.fi
Domestic operations
Ellinoora Vesala
Head of Domestic Operations
+358 50 461 9307
ellinoora.vesala@sask.fi
Laura Ventä
Communications Specialist
+358 44 024 1275
laura.venta@sask.fi
Susanna Haapalainen
Volunteer Specialist
+358 40 574 9936
susanna.haapalainen@sask.fi
Roosa Rusanen
Volunteer Specialist (on leave)
SASK Board 2023–2024
Chairmen of the Board
Kokko Ismo, Finnish Transport Workers’ Union AKT (chairman)
Kivioja Juska, The Finnish Confederation of Professionals STTK (vice-chairman)
Piirainen Marko, The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK (vice-chairman)
Members (in alphabetical order)
Arnkil Jenni, Trade Union of Education OAJ
Hakkarainen Mikko, Industrial Union
Koivuniemi Sari, Union of Health and Social Care Professionals in Finland Tehy
Koskenheimo Hanna, Akava Special Branches
Koskinen Matti, Trade Union Pro
Kreutzman Nina, The Finnish Construction Trade Union
Petälä Eveliina, Trade Union for Public and Welfare Sectors in Finland JHL
Ylitalo Jaana, Service Union United PAM
Supplementary Members
Väänänen Lea, Finnish Food Workers’ Union SEL
Holstila Ansku, Social Science Professionals
Björkbacka Pia, The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK
Haikonen Jaakko, The Finnish Confederation of Professionals STTK
Aiheeseen liittyvää
Qué es SASK?
SASK-teemakoulutus: Tekoälyä ja valvontaa?
