Name, registered office and operating area
Section 1
The association’s name is Ammattiyhdistys Nousu ry in Finnish, Fackföreningen Nousu rf in Swedish and Nousu Trade Union in English and it will be referred to hereinafter as Nousu. Nousu’s registered office is in Helsinki and its operating area is the whole of Finland.
Purpose and function
Section 2
As a trade association, Nousu’s purpose is to promote and develop the supervision of the interests of its members, their welfare, general social well-being and pay-related interests.
Nousu’s other purposes are to:
– promote the professional unionisation of the member groups it represents.
– develop and supervise the conditions of employment of the members it represents as well as their professional, social and legal interests.
– take action to strengthen the solidarity and mutual activities of the members it represents and to support its unemployed members.
Section 3
To implement its purpose Nousu
– will work to develop the professional competence of the members it represents.
– will participate in necessary collaboration with other organisations in Finland and abroad.
– will represent its members and act on their behalf in issues concerning them.
– will influence decision-making relating to social and industrial policies by giving presentations and putting forward initiatives.
– will support and guide the activities of its members.
– will prepare and deal with the pay negotiations and other negotiations that concern the members it represents, make the collective agreements and wage settlements that are in its name and monitor compliance with the agreements in question and the labour legislation.
– will carry out training and educational work as well as publishing activities.
– may become a member of Finnish and international organisations if joining them is beneficial for Nousu.
To support its activities, Nousu may
– accept legacies from wills, donations and subsidies.
– establish relief funds.
– own and control fixed assets and other property, carry on lodging and restaurant activities, practise holiday benefit activities intended for members, implement raffles and carry out publishing.
Nousu’s languages
Section 4
Nousu’s languages are Finnish and Swedish. Minutes for meetings are taken in Finnish.
Political commitment
Section 5
Nousu is independent of any political parties.
Members
Section 6
Nousu may have ordinary, honorary, supporting, student and pensioner members.
Persons working for the Nordea Group, its subsidiaries and other companies may become ordinary members of Nousu if the Nousu Board accepts them as members.
When joining Nousu as an ordinary member, the person also, subject to their consent, becomes a member of an unemployment fund determined by the Nousu Board, unless the law or the rules of the unemployment fund decree otherwise.
Nousu may invite persons who are considered especially distinguished in promoting its purposes to become its honorary members. An honorary member is not charged a membership fee. An honorary member is not entitled to stand as a candidate and has no right to vote.
The Nousu Board may accept as a supporting member of Nousu a private person, registered association, foundation and an incorporated society. Supporting members do not have the right to vote or be present at Nousu’s meetings and are not entitled to stand as candidates.
A person who is studying full-time in a vocational institute, a university or a university of applied science may be accepted as a student member of Nousu based on their application. A student member is not entitled to stand as a candidate and has no right to vote.
When a member retires permanently, they become a pensioner member, subject to their consent. A pensioner member is not entitled to stand as a candidate and has no right to vote.
Acquired rights are retained.
A member who wants to resign from Nousu shall notify the Board of their resignation in writing or in some other way that is in accordance with section 13 of the Associations Act. The resignation shall come into force immediately.
If a member has not paid their membership fee within three months of it falling due, the Board may consider the member as having resigned from Nousu from the beginning of the month for which the membership fee has not been paid.
The Nousu Board may terminate the membership of a member who acts against Nousu’s purpose, fails to comply with a decision made by Nousu’s representative body or Board, or neglects their obligations as a member.
A resigned member or one whose membership has been terminated shall lose all their rights in Nousu.
Bodies
Section 7
Nousu’s bodies are its representative body, Executive Board and Collective Agreement Committee.
Representative body
Section 8
The representative body includes 25 ordinary members, each of which has one personal deputy member. The representative body’s members and deputy members are elected with a vote by the members in elections organised at each electoral district according to the system of election by majority.
The number of members in the representative body by electoral district is determined in proportion to the number of members in the electoral district and in Nousu, but in such a way that at least one ordinary member and one personal deputy member are elected from each electoral district.
The number of members in the electoral district and in Nousu shall be calculated according to the number of ordinary members on the last day of December on the year preceding the election year. Members who have retired permanently shall not be included in the number of members.
Nousu’s ordinary members are entitled to vote and to stand as a candidate.
Detailed instructions for elections shall be determined in the election order which is approved at the spring meeting of the representative body every three years.
If the Nousu membership of a member of the representative body ends, they retire permanently, are elected as a member of the Nousu Board or otherwise become permanently disqualified to act as a member of the representative body, their membership in the representative body shall end and they shall be replaced with a deputy member. The Board may decide to organise the representative body’s by-election in the way specified in more detail in the voting and election order approved by the representative body at their meeting.
The members of Nousu’s Board and the union’s auditors and clerical workers have the right to attend and speak at the representative body’s meetings.
The representative body’s term is three years.
Meetings of the representative body
Section 9
The representative body’s meetings are either regular or extraordinary meetings.
On the Board’s decision, a meeting of the representative body can be attended via a data-communication link or some other technical aid.
For this purpose, the representative body shall approve a voting and election order.
The representative body has decision-making power when it has been convened according to the rules and when the chairperson or vice-chairperson of the representative body and at least half of the representative body’s members are present.
The representative body’s meetings are:
– the spring meeting held in April or May.
– the autumn meeting held in November or December.
The spring meeting shall:
– discuss the annual report of Nousu’s operations in the previous calendar year, compiled by the Board.
– discuss the financial statements and the auditor’s opinion of the previous year’s accounts and management of finances.
– decide on discharging the Board and other accountable persons or bodies from liability.
– approve the voting and election order and electoral districts every three years.
– discuss any other matters mentioned in the agenda.
The autumn meeting shall:
– confirm the composition of the new representative body every three years.
– elect the chairperson and vice-chairperson of the representative body from amongst the ordinary members of the representative body until the autumn meeting to be held in three years’ time.
– elect the Board’s chairperson, who shall be called the chairperson of Nousu, and one (1) vice-chairperson until the autumn meeting of the representative body to be held in three years’ time.
– elect the Board in compliance with section 10 of these rules.
– elect an auditor and deputy auditor until the representative body’s spring meeting to be held in three years’ time. The auditor and deputy auditor shall be approved auditors or an approved audit firm.
– elect the Collective Agreement Committee in compliance with section 11 of these rules.
– decide on the amount of the membership fees to be charged the following year and the charging period, taking into account the regulations set in section 12.
– decide on the remuneration of members of the representative body, Board, committees, the auditor and deputy auditor and the persons appointed to carry out special tasks, as well as on the criteria for the reimbursement of travelling expenses.
– discuss the plan of action for the following year, compiled by the Board, and decide on its acceptance.
– confirm the revenue and expenditure estimate for the next year.
– deal with any other matters mentioned in the agenda.
The representative body’s meeting may elect for Nousu a new chairperson or vice-chairperson, Board member or deputy member, auditor, or chairperson or vice-chairperson for the representative body from among the members of the representative body should any of the above resign, be discharged or otherwise be permanently prevented from taking care of their duties. The election shall be mentioned in the notice of meeting.
The chairperson and vice-chairperson of the representative body, the chairperson or vice-chairperson of the Board and the members of the Board are elected by simple majority.
In addition to matters mentioned elsewhere in these rules, the matters to be decided by the representative body include Nousu becoming a member of or resigning from a Finnish or international central organisation or another type of organisation and acquiring, selling, mortgaging and pledging significant assets.
A representative body’s extraordinary meeting shall be held when the Board considers it necessary, or at least one fifth (1/5) of the representative body’s ordinary members or at least one tenth (1/10) of Nousu’s members who are entitled to vote make a written proposal about it to the Board, itemising the issue they wish to discuss at the meeting.
The representative body is convened by the Board. It is the Board’s responsibility to notify the representative body’s members, deputy members and auditors about the representative body’s regular meeting at least two (2) months before the meeting.
Invitations to the representative body’s regular meeting and a meeting agenda shall be sent either by letter or email to the representative body’s members and auditors at least one (1) week before the meeting. An invitation to a representative body’s extraordinary meeting shall be sent by letter or email to the members of the representative body and the auditors at least three (3) days before the meeting. The invitation shall list the issues to be dealt with. The invitation shall also mention if remote participation is possible in the way determined by the Board.
Any matters not belonging to a statutory meeting which a member wishes to be dealt with at the representative body’s spring or autumn meeting shall be presented to the Board in writing at least thirty (30) days before the meeting.
In a meeting of the representative body, decisions are made by a simple majority of votes. Matters are resolved by voting by a show of hands. When the votes are fifty-fifty, the opinion the chairperson endorses shall win, except in elections and closed votes where the matter shall be settled by drawing a lot. The voting shall be closed if at least two members of the representative body demand so for a specific matter.
The Board
Section 10
The Board comprises the chairperson, one (1) vice-chairperson and a minimum of six (6) and maximum of eight (8) members and one (1) personal deputy member for each member. The chairperson of the Board shall also be called the chairperson of Nousu and the vice-chairperson shall be called the vice-chairperson of Nousu.
Members of the Board shall be elected at the representative body’s autumn meeting every three years for a period of three years at a time. When establishing the Board, geographical coverage shall be taken into account.
The Board convenes at the invitation of the chairperson or, in the event that he or she is prevented from attending, the vice-chairperson.
Decisions are made by a simple majority of votes. When the votes are fifty-fifty, the opinion the chairperson endorses shall win, except in elections and closed votes where the matter shall be settled by drawing a lot.
The Board has decision-making power when the chairperson or vice-chairperson and at least half the members of the Board are present.
It is the Board’s duty to:
– manage Nousu’s operations in accordance with these rules and the decisions made in the representative body’s meetings.
– take care of contract negotiations and other negotiations.
– convene the representative body’s meetings and prepare the matters to be handled in them.
– manage Nousu’s assets and other property and take care of its bookkeeping and the preparation of its financial statements.
– approve and discharge members and keep a list of them.
– take care of communications, publicity, publishing and training activities.
– keep in contact with Finnish and international organisations and represent Nousu.
– elect Nousu’s representatives for Finnish and international organisations.
– elect Nousu’s representatives for various working groups.
– elect the staff representatives of internal Group-level teams and committees.
– decide on Group and company-level agreements.
– instruct and monitor shop steward activities and organise shop steward elections.
– hire and discharge any clerical workers in the union and confirm their wage bases and duties.
– decide on the acceptance of a collective agreement that is in its own name, as well as on agreement targets and the termination of an agreement.
– decide on any industrial action to be taken concerning a collective agreement that is in its name and any industrial action aid connected to such action.
The Board may organise a consultative vote by the members on industrial action to be taken concerning a collective agreement, or submit the matter to the representative body to decide.
The Board shall appoint bodies as it considers necessary to prepare matters to be dealt with.
Collective Agreement Committee
Section 11
The union has a Collective Agreement Committee that is elected by the representative body. The Collective Agreement Committee has a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 8 members. It is the Collective Agreement Committee’s responsibility to determine the objectives of negotiations concerning the terms and conditions of employment, prepare proposals for decisions on the negotiation results concerning a collective agreement and monitor the development of the collective agreement sector.
Membership fees
Section 12
It is the responsibility of an ordinary member of Nousu to pay the membership fee determined by Nousu’s representative body in its autumn meeting from the beginning of the calendar month following the month they became a member. There may be a minimum and maximum sum for the membership fee. Nousu’s supporting, student and pensioner members shall pay the membership fee specified separately for each member group by Nousu’s representative body in its autumn meeting.
The representative body shall also decide on the amount of the membership fee for:
– unemployed members.
– members on maternity leave, child care leave, leave of absence, job alternation leave, study leave or members who are abroad or otherwise temporarily not in gainful employment.
For a special reason, but no more than once a calendar year, the representative body may instruct members to pay an extra membership fee, the amount of which per member shall be no more than the amount corresponding to three months’ membership fee.
If Nousu becomes a member of another association whose rules entitle it to give its member organisations instructions on the amount of membership fees, the decisions on membership fees shall be made in accordance with the instructions in question.
Detailed instructions on the amount of membership fees to be paid and the collection and accounting of membership fees, as well as the definition of the bases of the membership fee shall be given by the Board.
Operational and financial year
Section 13
Nousu’s operational and financial year is a calendar year. Financial statements, the associated documents and the Board’s annual report shall be submitted to the auditor by the end of March. The auditor shall provide the Board with their written audit opinion at the latest two weeks before the representative body’s spring meeting.
Right to sign on behalf of Nousu
Section 14
Nousu’s chairperson, vice-chairperson and other persons designated by the Board, always two together, have the right to sign on behalf of Nousu.
Changing the rules
Section 15
Decisions concerning the changing of these rules shall be made by the representative body by a majority vote of at least two thirds (2/3).
The invitation to a meeting shall mention that the agenda includes the proposed change of rules.
Dissolution of Nousu
Section 16
The decision to dissolve Nousu shall be made in two consecutive meetings of the representative body with at least two (2) months between them. One of these meetings shall be the representative body’s regular meeting. The decisions shall be made by a majority vote of at least three quarters (3/4).
The invitation to the meeting shall mention that the agenda includes the dissolution of Nousu.
If Nousu is dissolved, any assets Nousu owns shall be used in a way that promotes Nousu’s purpose and that is determined in the meeting where the dissolution decision is made.
Transition period
Section 17
On the date that these rules come into force, the members and deputy members, chairperson and vice-chairperson of the Board, as well as the chairperson and vice-chairperson, members and deputy members of the representative body operating in Nousu will continue in their duties until the spring meeting of 2019. During the transition period, the by-election of the representative body’s representatives and deputy representatives may be carried out in accordance with section 8 of these rules.
The first elections of the representative body that are in compliance with these rules will be organised, exceptionally, in the spring of 2019. The term of the representative body elected at that time, contrary to section 8 of these rules, will end in the autumn of 2021 when the next election of the representative body will take place.
Contrary to section 9 of these rules, at its spring meeting 2019, the representative body shall carry out the following actions in addition to the measures specified in section 9 of these rules:
– confirm the composition of the new representative body
– elect the chairperson and vice-chairperson of the representative body from amongst the ordinary members of the representative body until the 2021 autumn meeting
– elect the chairperson and vice-chairperson of the Board until the 2021 autumn meeting of the representative body
– elect the members of the Board until the 2021 autumn meeting of the representative body
– elect an auditor and deputy auditor until the 2022 spring meeting of the representative body
– elect the Collective Agreement Committee in compliance with section 11 of these rules
The voting and election order and electoral districts mentioned in section 8 of these rules shall be approved for the first time at the 2021 spring meeting. As regards the election of spring 2019, however, the voting and election order and electoral districts shall be approved according to the previous rules in such a way that the number of ordinary and deputy members of the representative body complies with section 8 of these rules.
