What is Viesti?
Do you work in the field of communications? Are a student in communications? Viesti is a trade union that represents communications professionals and students in Finland. We warmly welcome you to join us!
Viesti – The Union of Communications Professionals
Viesti is a trade union for people who work in the field of communications in Finland. We are a community of professionals and represent the interests of communications specialists. Our members work in different professions, such as communications, marketing, media, and project management. Viesti is the only trade union representing solely communications professionals and students in Finland.
Viesti’s main objective is to ensure a good working life, successful careers, and fair salaries for its members. We provide individual help in everyday working life and all its turning points and situations. Viesti provides its members with training and education, mentoring, company visits, and a platform for networking. We oversee cohesiveness and valuation amongst our members.
Together with our federations, Akava and Akava Special Branches, the Trade Union’s objective is to raise awareness and increase appreciation of communications professionals.
Membership fee categories
1. Basic Membership fee 32 € / month
For members who have an employment contract.
2. Part-time worker 20 € / month
For members whose working hours are 60 % or less.
The discount is applied on a monthly basis and is valid for at least one month. If the part-time period is shorter than a month you don’t need to report the changes and it won’t affect the membership fee.
To apply for the part-time worker’s fee you must complete a form. This can be done in advance or after the part-time period, for up to 3 months at a time.
3. Discounted fee 16 € / month
- For members who receive allowance from an unemployment fund.
- For members who are entrepreneurs or freelancers.
4. Minimum payment 8 € / month
For members who don’t receive a salary or allowance from an unemployment fund. Or if your situation corresponds to any of the following
- family leave / maternity leave
- retirement
- scholarship
- unpaid sick leave
- cash rehabilitation benefit
- family caregiver support
- allowance from Kela
5. Student 2,70 € / month
You are eligible for the student membership fee if you are an enrolled degree student and do not receive adult education allowance.
You are also eligible for the student fee if you work alongside your studies on:
- summer or seasonal jobs
- part-time jobs
- an internship
When you start full-time work (excluding internships, summer jobs, and seasonal work), you will be classified as an employee and will pay the basic membership fee of 32 € per month even if your studies are still ongoing.
If you are not enrolled as an attending student your membership fee will be determined by your employment status.
Our mission and values
We work to ensure that communication and communication professionals are valued in Finland. We help communication professionals to maintain their professional competence and to get to know one another. On every step, our values guide our way and those are: community, topicality, influence.
Communications as a profession
Communications is a specialist job requiring expertise, training and knowledge. When you work in communications you are called on for the know-how of publicity, content production and public management. Main tasks include of communication professionals often include media communications, work community communications, internal communications, marketing communications, building reputation and brand, content production, social media management, and hosting communication training within organizations.
Communications professionals work in companies, public and private sectors, organizations, educational institutions, and congregations. Many people also work as entrepreneurers, practioners and freelancers. The most common job titles among Viesti’s members are publicist and head of communications.
Guides for employment
Do you need help defining salary ranges or learning about terms and conditions of employment? Take a look at our guide books
- Recommended minimum pay for communications professionals at the private sector
- Terms and conditions of employment
Services and benefits
You can browse the full list of benefits on Akava Special Branche’s website.
Unemployment benefit
As a salaried member the Unemployment Fund Ote manages your unemployment benefit. You may be entitled to earnings-related unemployment allowance, job alternation compensation or other Fund Benefits. The Fund’s Membership Fee is included in the Union’s Membership Fee.
Entrepreneur and indepedent professional members must make sure of joining the Unemployment Fund for Entrepreneurs and the Self-Employed AYT.
Viesti’s board
Our board accounts for Viesti’s operations. The board consist of a chairperson, six members and three deputy members. We also have one student representative. The aim of the board is to represent our members widely from different sectors and contract areas. Board members also work in different working committees, for example in service design committees. We have members in Akava Special Branches’ organs too.
Students
You can join our union already while you are studying. By becoming our student member you are allowed to participate in our educational and other events. You are also entitled to all membership benefits.
Joining us as a student you can start to accumulate your earnings-related unemployment benefit. This is also a great opportunity to get to know areas of working life and smoothen the transition from student life to working life.
Are you doing an internship in communications? See our minimum wage recommendations below.
Communication’s trainee’s minimum wages recommendations for students
Contact information:
Viesti’s office
E-mail: toimisto@viesti.fi
Address:
Snellmaninkatu 19–21 F 13
00170 Helsinki
Employees
Siina Repo, Executive Director
Phone: +358 40 485 0008
E-mail: siina.repo@viesti.fi
Emma Koponen, Communications Specialist
emma.koponen@viesti.fi
Support for your career and wellbeing
Career coaching
Other services and benefits
Membership fee and other services
If you want to change your own information, you can log in to online service. You can also send information about the changes by e-mail to Akava Special Branche’s member secretarie’s or call them 0201 235 300 (on weekdays from 9am–4pm).
Employment counselling
Public sector’s employment counselling
0201 235 320
julkinensektori@akavanerityisalat.fi
Private sector’s employment counselling
0201 235 310
yksityinensektori@akavanerityisalat.fi
Service hours on weekdays from 9am – 2pm
Inquiries about salaries: siina.repo@viesti.fi or
+358 40 485 0008
Earnings-related unemployment benefit: Unemployment Fund Ote