Trade Union for Theatre and Media Finland, Teme
Teme is the biggest trade union for art and culture in Finland.
Teme is an union consisting of 7 independent organisations. You can read more of these organisations in the end of this document.
- Film and Media Professionals Finland ELMA,
- Theatre, Film and Television Designers LP
- Union of Dance and Circus Artists Finland STST
- Lighting, Sound and Video Designers in Finland SVÄV
- Union of Theatre Directors and Dramaturges Finland STOD
- Theatre Professionals´ Union Finland TAM
- Association of Cinema Projectionists Finland EKH
The members of Teme are professionals, students, freelancers and self-employed persons in the fields of theatre, dance, film and TV production. There are some 4 400 members including artists, designers, technicians, teachers and officials.
Join the union!
If you want to join Teme, you can apply for the membership with the form in our website.
Take a look at the membership fees which is 1,6%.
As a member of Teme you are automatically a member of the Open Unemployment Fund, A-kassa.
Your basic security as a member
The trade union stands for security and better working conditions. You will get advice and information on all matters related to your employment. You can also get your employment contract checked by the union.
The union creates common rules in the field. It’s worthwhile being a member. In addition you will get the whole network of colleagues of your branch.
Staying in Finland
If you want to work in Finland, you need a residence permit. Immigrants should contact Finnish Immigration Service for residence permits and applying for citizenship. There are some applications that must be filled before staying in Finland for a longer time and working.
The police handle for example passports and other certificates for the citizens.
The Finnish health care system covers all people, who are staying in Finland.
Kela is the organisation, that every Finnish citizen needs in some point of their lives. From Kela you can apply to certain benefits for example in case of sickness, unemployment, housing and starting a family.
Most of the education is completely free in Finland. In Studyinfo aka Opintopolku you can find education suitable for you.
Working in Finland
When you need information about working life in Finland, please read the following links.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment gives you information about labour legislation, support and compensations.
The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK is a labour market organisation, social interest group, campaigning force and NGO. It gives information about working life from the employee’s point of view. SAK is the confederation of 18 trade unions, which have over 800 000 members in total.
You are free to join a trade union in Finland. If you work in the creative field, join Teme, the member union of SAK!
Teme´s Work for All -site has a collection of the rules of employment and professional life in Finland.
In case of unemployment
Whenever you need help and guidance in registering as a job seeker or applying for a start-up grant, please contact the TE services at Työmarkkinatori. You can create a profile and contact the experts, who’ll help you along.
If you have no work, you can apply for the unemployment fund’s benefit. Guide to unemployment fund & benefits…
You can join the unemployment fund and get unemployment benefit while you’re out of work. You will get an income-related daily allowance after being a member of unemployment fund and employed during 6 months. You can apply for membership in the unemployment fund by filling in the same form as when applying for union membership.
At your service
Karoliina Huovila, executive director
Jussi Kiiski, lawyer, employment contract specialist
Elsa Heikkilä, Heidi Naakka, Vespa Laine and Antti Hosia employment contract specialist
Anne Saveljeff, communications
Maria Sairanen, member secretary
Teme as an organisation
The members of Teme are professionals, students, freelancers and self-employed persons in the fields of theatre, dance, film and TV production. There are 4400 members including artists, designers, technicians, teachers and officials.
The trade union means security and better working conditions. You will get advice and information on all matters related to your employment. You can also get your employment contract checked by the union.
The union creates common rules in the field. It’s worthwhile being a member.
Collective labour agreements – characteristic to the trade unions
A collective agreement defines the general rules that both the employer and the employees should observe – like salaries and working time. The union negotiates the agreement and controls that the provisions of the contract are complied with. Teme negotiates 8 collective agreements and one of the is in English: Collective agreement for film and tv-production
Legal services
The lawyers will give you advice if you run into problems at work. If necessary, the union can represent your cause in court .
There is a comprehensive network of shop stewards in Finnish theatres. The shop steward knows the rules of the house and will give you help and advice. The matters of the dance artists are taken care of by regional representatives.
Copyright matters
As a copyright owner you can become a member of the Kopiosto, and on the basis of the copyright provisions you will get copyright payments. Copyright matters should always be settled by a labour contract in writing. The union will give you more information and advice.
Insurance security
As a regular member you’ll get a free-of-charge leisure-time accident insurance and a travel insurance with the Casualty Insurance Company If. Due to the union’s agreement with the If, all members can also get motor-vehicle, home, luggage and life insurances at a discount.
Other membership benefits
With the membership card you can buy several products and services at a discount, like theatre tickets at a discount.
International contacts
You’ll get contact with trade unions all over the world through the Union Network International UNI and UNI-MEI and FIA. Teme also co-operates with the unions in the Scandinavian countries and Europe.
Up-to-date information
You can keep yourself up to date and get fresh information on all current guestions and, for instance, law amendments in your own field.
Basic security
The above-mentioned membership benefits and services are available to all members of the seven unions in the Teme. The member unions are intensively cooperating with the Teme and among themselves on questions of theatre, dance and film policy and in making statements on, for instance, law amendments.
Further, each union takes care of its own particular matters. More on these matters in the following:
Union of Dance and Circus Artists Finland
The Union has since 1937 been working as a trade union, a cultural organization and a moulder of public opinion. On the international level, the union is an active member of the International Federation of Actors (FIA) and the Nordiska Skådespelarrådet (NSR, ie the Council of Scandinavian Actors). There are 1050 members in the organization. Most of them live in the Helsinki region About 80 per cent of the members are self-employed, or work as freelancers with short employment contracts. The union actively cooperates with the most important organizations in the field of culture, such as the Finnish Dance Information Centre, the Dance Arena, the Dance Health Finland, the Room for Dance Society and the Helsinki International Ballet Competition.
Film and Media Professionals Finland
The organization is a new trade union for film employees and film artists in Finland. There are 300 members. They work for instance as directors, cinematographers, cutters and set, costume, lighting, sound designers in the production of long, documentary, short and video films as well as commercials and TV programmes.
Lighting, Sound and Video Designers in Finland
The Union is a member union of Teme. The association is founded in 1992 and it is working as a union whose members are carrying out artistic and technical design in lighting, sound and video design in the performing arts in theatres, dance theatres, universities, museums, operas and at concerts and festivals. The union aims at consolidating the working conditions of the relatively young profession for example in terms of labour agreements, payment and social matters. The union also awards annual honorary prizes and pays tribute to distinguished artists and designers in the field and organizes courses. The union has 280 members.
Theatre, Film and Television Designers
The Union has over 60 years been taking care of the scenographers’ interests in professional questions and cultural policy. The number of members is 280. They work as costume, stage and production designers in theatres, operas, film and TV productions. The Union is an important cooperation partner in the international field, such as ARTSCENICO and Finland’s OISTAT.
Union of Theatre Directors and Dramaturges Finland
The Union takes care of the interests of 380 directors and dramaturges. It also tries to promote the development of the theatre and cultural policy of the country. About 10 per cent of the members work as directors and dramaturges permanently engaged in various theatres. One of the most important tasks of the union is to improve the status and significance of the Finnish theatre by promoting discussions and taking initiatives. A year of initiation for young directors and dramaturges is a project started by the union. The project aims at bringing together the already established theatre field and the younger generation. On the international level, the union is a member of the Nordiska Sceninstruktörrådet (NSIR, ie the Scandinavian Council of Theatre Directors and Instructors) and has concluded agreements on cultural exchange with the Asociacion de Directores de Escena in Spain and the Eesti Lavastajate Liit (the Estonian Theatre Directors’ Union).
Theatre Professionals´Union Finland
The Union takes care of the interests of 1850 members and focuses on the development of the members’working conditions, salaries, professional skills and training. The members are working in administration and marketing and they are among others stage managers, hairdressers, prompters, coulisse men, makeup artists, metal workers, cloakroom attendants, stage workers, dressmakers, dressers, carpenters, property men, effects men, tailors, doormen, and lighting and sound managers in all fields of the performing dramatic arts. The society Kilta (the Guild) for teachers and instructors in drama expression plays an active role within the union. It aims at promoting the employment of the members and at bringing the young profession to public attention. Arranging further education and seminars on topical questions plays an important role in the union’s activities. On the international level, the union takes part in the work of the Nordisk Teater för Teknik och Administration (NTR, ie approx. Technics and Administration in Scandinavian Theatres).
Please contact us
Trade Union for Theatre and Media Finland