Finnish Seamen's Union

The Finnish Seamen's Union (Finnish: Suomen Merimies-Unioni, SM-U) is a trade union representing maritime and inland waterway transport workers in Finland.

The Helsinki Seamen's and Firemen's Union was founded in 1916, and from 1920, it was known as the Finnish Seamen's and Firemen's Union, covering the whole country. It was banned in 1930, but a group of socialist trade unionists immediately founded a new union of the same name, and so the union considers its history to be continuous from 1916. In 1934, it joined the Finnish Federation of Trade Unions (SAK).[1][2]

In 1938, Niilo Wälläri was elected as the union's president, known for his advocacy of industrial action. Under his leadership the union secured a closed shop for the Finnish Merchant Navy. The union's membership grew, reaching 6,805 by 1955, but in 1956 it resigned from the SAK. Three years later, it was a founding affiliate of the rival Finnish Trade Union Federation (SAJ), and since 1969 it has been affiliated to its successor, the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions.[1][2][3]

By 1998, the union had 10,146 members,[1] while in 2020, its membership was about 9,500.[4]

Presidents
1938: Niilo Wallari
1968: Olavi Keitele
1976: Reijo Anttila
1992: Per-Erik Nelin
2000: Simo Zitting
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References
  1. Ebbinghaus, Bernhard; Visser, Jelle (2000). Trade Unions in Western Europe Since 1945. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 218. ISBN 0333771125.
  2. "Historia". Merimies-Unioni. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  3. Directory of Labor Organizations, Europe. United States Bureau of Labor Affairs. 1955. pp. 8.7–8.16.
  4. "Liitto". Merimies-Unioni. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
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