Trade unions have played a significant role in shaping modern Finnish society, but to young people they may seem like relics of the past. In today’s world, individualism is strongly emphasised: you have to fend for yourself. People only turn to a trade union when all the employees at a company are being made redundant.
At the same time, young people are full of anxiety about their own employment prospects, and their faith in the future has collapsed. It can be difficult to break into working life when it appears to be changing ever more rapidly and there are fewer and fewer entry-level jobs on offer. Youth unemployment is on the rise, and many fear that their entire career will vanish before it has even begun. On top of this, young people are experiencing increasing loneliness and uncertainty about their place in society.
In this individualistic age, however, the aim is to find empowerment through one’s own choices, achievements and ability to cope. This phenomenon has, in part, led to a decline in young people’s interest in trade unions: ‘I can manage on my own and negotiate my own pay’. On the other hand, this also means that failures and uncertainty fall solely on one’s own shoulders. Right now, young people are facing perhaps the greatest level of uncertainty of the entire millennium.
Working life has never been based solely on getting by on your own. We, the authors, met whilst working together as student activists in Tampere. Although we come from different fields, we quickly realised that we share a passion for championing the same causes. By working together, we can achieve more than would be possible on our own. A sense of community should not just be a nice bonus in working life; it is absolutely vital for employees’ wellbeing and success at work.
A sense of community can also be one solution to the anxiety felt by young people as they enter working life. Difficult times have always brought people together. At present, trade unions are perhaps in the best position they have been in for the past decade to attract young members. However, this requires not only communication aimed at young people, but also concrete action and investment.
For us, the unions have provided contacts, training and opportunities for growth that we would not have found anywhere else. Right now, they can offer young people precisely those points of connection to working life that we so desperately need. When you are surrounded by a community that shares the same professional identity, finding your place doesn’t feel quite so difficult. And, most importantly, you don’t have to find it on your own.
Trade unions now have a unique opportunity to restore young people’s faith in the future and fulfil their need for a sense of community. As well as providing security in working life, trade unions can offer a community that not only helps us grow as professionals but also instils hope for the future.
Ellinoora Laaksonen, TAKU ry
Mika Pajala, TEK
Noora Hakulinen, Viesti ry