Become a member now

Do you work at a university of applied sciences or a vocational education institution?

Ammatillisten oppilaitosten ja ammattikorkeakoulujen opettajat ja asiantuntijat AO ry (Teachers and experts of vocational education institutions and universities of applied sciences AO) is your trade union!

AO is part of the Trade Union of Education OAJ.

YOUR TRADE UNION – THE BEST TRADE UNION

Teachers and experts of vocational educational institutions and universities of applied sciences AO is familiar with safeguarding the interests of vocational education teachers and experts in the field, as well as developing terms of employment, working conditions and pay. The question is of specialisation when you decide which trade union to join. The most important part of specialisation is the collective agreement applied in the sector. It defines almost all matters related to the employee’s terms of employment and salary. For this reason, only the trade union of your own sector is familiar with the collective agreement for the sector and can therefore advise and help you in matters related to the employment relationship. AO has the best knowledge and expertise of these.

KEY MATTERS THAT YOUR TRADE UNION LOOKS AFTER

    • Your union will negotiate your basic salary and salary increases

    • Some of the increases are agreed locally – this is taken care of by the chief shop steward of the workplace

    • Without the union and the chief shop steward, we would have to do everything ourselves

    • Paid leave, holidays and their duration

    • Holiday bonus, i.e. increased salary for the holiday period

    • According to the law, you would only receive 10 days of paid sick leave, but your union has negotiated a longer paid sick leave for you.

    • Paid leave of three days for the care of a sick child.

    • Paid leaves for a limited period according to the collective agreement negotiated by your union.

    • Discussions with an employment lawyer.

    • Possible legal aid in court in matters related to your work.

    • Reviewing the employment contract.

WHEN YOU BENEFIT FROM THE HELP OF THE TRADE UNION AND SHOP STEWARD

    • If you think that your salary has been calculated incorrectly, the shop steward and trade union will help you check and, if necessary, correct the matter in order to get the right salary in accordance with the agreements.

    • Sometimes an employment relationship may continue for a long time for a fixed term contrary to the letter and spirit of the law. In that case, you should contact the shop steward of AO/OAJ. Your own trade union will help you correct the situation.

    • The duration or timing of paid leave or holiday may sometimes be determined incorrectly. The shop steward or trade union will help you check the matter. If the situation requires rectification, the trade union and shop steward will help you.

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS FOR YOU AND ALL VOCATIONAL EDUCATION TEACHERS

Joining a trade union is one of the most important things that bring security to working life.

Cutting salaries and impairing terms of employment lead to unfair competition. To prevent this, we need to be strong and effective. That is why it is so important that as many of us as possible belong to AO.

The trade union serves its members by negotiating and concluding a universally binding collective agreement for the sector with employers. A universally binding collective agreement means that the terms of employment and salaries apply to all employers and employees in the sector.

Many other qualitative matters in working life are also negotiated by trade unions. In collective bargaining negotiations, the trade union and employers agree on increased compensation for additional, overtime and Sunday work, holiday pay, sick pay, the duration of paid sick leave, paid family leave and paid public holidays, for example.

Join now and we have an effective and strong AO.

COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS ARE DIFFERENT

Different sectors have their own collective agreements, which define the working conditions and salaries applied in the sector. The agreements can differ greatly from each other with respect to both salaries and terms of employment. Your educational background does not determine which contract you are covered by, but what you do at work and which employer you are employed by. The collective agreement for the education sector is applied as the collective agreement for employees working in teacher positions at a university of applied sciences or a vocational educational institution.

As collective agreements are unique, only your own trade union can advise and help you, as only it is familiar with working life issues and agreements made in its own sector. For this reason, AO provides you with the most competent help when it comes to matters related to pay, collective agreements and training, as well as legal issues.

A RATIONAL CHOICE IS NOT A BAD CHOICE

The easiest way to become an AO member is to click on the link below. AO is part of the Trade Union of Education OAJ, so the joining form is OAJ’s, but everything is fine – you are in the right place
JOIN THE UNION

The average total membership fee is 1.1 per cent of the total earnings subject to withholding tax. The total membership fee varies according to association. The membership fee includes the membership fees of OAJ, the regional and local association and the unemployment fund.

The shop steward or contact teacher at the workplace can provide advice on the most difficult points of the joining form. Do not hesitate to contact them, as advice is part of their work.

EXPERT ASSISTANCE IS ALWAYS USEFUL

Many problems can be avoided by having the trade union’s experts check the agreements related to the employment relationship in advance. In employment counselling, members are served by specialists and shop stewards familiar with working life issues.

    • employment contracts

    • termination of employment

    • qualifications and their interpretations

    • experience and fixed-year bonuses

    • legal disputes related to employment relationships

    • unemployment security issues

    • questions about the employee’s liability for damages

    • dismissal and termination of employment

    • outstanding salaries

    • work crime cases

    • disagreements about salaries

    • collection of outstanding salaries, clarification of grounds for termination of employment

    • practical instructions related to the cooperation procedure

    • interpretation of the collective agreement

    • matters related to workplace bullying

SOME VALUABLE MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

    • Unemployment benefit (when you join the Unemployment Fund for Education and Science)

    • Leisure-time accident, travel and professional indemnity insurance

    • Professional liability and legal expenses insurance

    • Organisation insurance against personal injury and property damage at AO’s events

    • Opettaja magazine

    • Holiday and recreational benefits

    • Benefits for drivers

    • Discount on accommodation and ship travel

    • More detailed membership benefits can be found here under membership benefits