Members of Trade Union Pro work in almost every sector of society, giving us a uniquely broad view of working conditions and well-being in Finland. We also have long-term research data on our members' values, attitudes and earnings trends.
Whether you're talking about the impact of AI or remote work, international trends in working life and employment legislation, or equality in different sectors, we have the right interviewee for you.
Pro is also a pioneer in the trade union field in areas such as data security, mental wellbeing and psychosocial security, employment of people aged 55+ and leading change management. We are also home to many international experts working in Finland.
What is Trade Union Pro?
Pro is a collective force of working life and one of the largest trade unions in Finland.
Pro's members are educated professionals, experts and managers in a wide array of sectors. We are home to 120 000 members and negotiate 150 collective agreements.
Our mission is to improve the working conditions, livelihoods and career prospects of our members and those studying these fields. We also look after the well-being of our members, both at work and off duty.
We believe that a humane working life is a human right. We foresee international developments and phenomena and develop new solutions for Finnish working life. We build a socially, ecologically and economically sustainable, equal society - or to put it shortly: the joy of working life!
Pro Executive Board
Jorma Malinen is the President of Trade Union Pro. Malinen is an automation designer by training and has had a long working career, e.g. at shipyards in Finland. In the years 2009–2012, Malinen served as a board member of Pro, and since 2014 he has served as President.
Malinen represents Pro in the media. In addition to this, Malinen acts as a spokesperson or themes that deal with mental health and substance abuse problems in the workplace, the role of trade unions in today’s society and continuous learning in a working career.
Jani Salenius works as the financial and administrative Director. By education, Salenius has a bachelor's degree in law and a master's degree in administrative sciences.
Salenius has worked in his current position since 2012. Salenius is a third-generation union employee.
Salenius represents Pro on themes that deal with sustainable investments, union and organization work, and financial issues concerning the union.
Antti Hakala has worked at Pro since the founding of the union, i.e. until 2011, and in his current position since 2017. Hakala has studied economics at Turku University of Economics.
Hakala has worked in the trade union movement since 1997. He has previously worked for Trade Unions Suora and Suomen Ekonomit, among others.
Hakala represents Pro on themes that deal with the importance of EU decision-making in the financial sector and the ICT and communication sector, the development of the trade union movement's operations and the formation of goals, as well as salary and reward systems, and especially the salary discussion model in the finance and insurance industry. Hakala can also give an interview in Swedish.
Maria Mäkynen has been Pro's Director of Public Affairs since 2022. By education, Mäkynen has a Master's Degree in social sciences and a Master's Degree in educational sciences from the University of Jyväskylä. Mäkynen is currently writing his dissertation on the transformation of work and changes in the labor market system. Mäkynen also works as a podcast host in the podcasts Feministinen talous and 8 myths about burnout.
For a decade, Mäkynen has worked on social advocacy both at the local and national level from the perspective of research, political preparation and management of the development of working life. Before her current position, Mäkynen worked as an advocacy expert, as an education researcher, education manager and in Sanna Marin's political council. For a decade, Mäkynen has worked on advocacy from the local level to the national decision-making in labor and education policy issues.
Mäkynen represents Pro on themes that deal with the importance of trade unions for young people, a psychosocially safe working life and equality.
Minea Pyykönen has served as a Trade Union Pro's Director of the service sector since 2017. Pyykönen has worked, e.g. as a ballet school entrepreneur and in several different administrative and management positions. By education, Pyykönen has a master's degree in administrative sciences from the University of Tampere and a master's degree in law from the University of Turku. Pyykönen has also completed the Positive Psychology Practitioner qualification and strives to help people find positive things in life even in difficult times.
In the Mutsi change management project piloted by Pro, Pyykönen has been internationally awarded as innovation of the year and as an act of corporate responsibility. In addition, Pyykönen actively promotes Pro's UusioUra recruitment event, which focuses on promoting the recruitment of 45+ job seekers and career changers. Pyykönen has published several books that deal with workplace bullying, sexual harassment, among other things.
Pyykönen acts as a spokerperson on themes that deal with the employment of people over 50, equality and the development of working life, change management and harassment, discrimination in the workplace.
Niko Simola has served as Pro's Director of the Public Sector since 2019. Simola has a bachelor's degree in law from the University of Helsinki and specializes in labor law.
Simola has worked for 20 years in various positions in trade unions. Simola has worked as a lawyer and National Collective Agreement Specialist in both the private and public sectors. In 2019, Simola took over the position of Director of the Public Sector after Pardia merged with Pro. Simola served as Chairman of Pardia from 2013 to 2019.
Simola represents Pro on themes related to the importance of functioning state administration, contractual society and the efficiency of organizations.
Anssi Vuorio works at Pro as Director of the industrial sector. He has been working in his current position since 2017. Vuorio has a bachelor's degree in law and is a deputy judge from the University of Helsinki.
Vuorio has worked as a full member of the Labor Court, as a legal adviser at the Helsinki District Court and for a long time in leadership positions in trade unions. In the past, he has worked, among other things, as a director at trade union PAM.
Vuorio represents Pro on themes dealing with working life legislation and collective bargaining.
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