Name
Kim Englund
What do you do for a living and in which organisation?
I’m a training manager at WithSecure Plc. I produce training materials regarding our products for our partner trainings.
What is your role as an employee representative?
Chief shop steward
How long have you been an employee representative?
Over 20 years in various roles, I’ve been a chief shop steward for nine years.
Number of people represented
Around 400
Why did you become an employee representative?
Originally, I agreed to run for an occupational safety and health representative, and even though I was on leave during the election itself, my colleagues voted for me as they knew I had the courage to speak for everyone and to stand up for common causes.
What have you achieved as an employee representative?
We’ve built a good and effective working relationship with our employer and established a number of useful local agreements and practices.
What is the hardest aspect of being an employee representative?
Cooperation negotiations where you negotiate about possibly terminating employments. The most difficult situations are the actual lay-offs following these negotiations. How I can find the best solutions while negotiating and then support people when they’re made redundant.
What is the easiest aspect of being an employee representative?
I can't think of one specific thing that would be the easiest.
What is the best aspect of being an employee representative?
When I can help someone in a difficult situation, whether it's about lay-offs or any other issue they're having at work, and I can solve the problem and help them see the light after a difficult period.
What is the worst aspect of being an employee representative?
When I can't do anything about an issue for one reason or another, even if I’d want to.
What support do you get or need from your negotiation organisation?
Training on new issues, such as changes in the law or a new collective agreement, and help from lawyers and collective agreement experts when my own knowledge and skills aren’t enough. A peer network with other employee representatives is also an important element where the union can help.
To whom would you recommend the role of an employee representative?
For anyone who cares about their work community and wants to improve or develop it further. The most important thing is to speak up.
To whom would you not recommend the role of an employee representative?
For those who only care about their own interests. The employee representative is there to serve the common interest.
What keeps you busy during the day?
Usually my daily work. During cooperation negotiations, I’m kept busy by the negotiations and preparing for future meetings or analysing the previous meeting and the information obtained there.
What keeps you up at night?
Usually nothing.
What should be discussed at work?
Changes the government is seeking that relate to working life.
Anything else you'd like to say?
Many people might think that an employee representative is a scary union bulldozer, but I find the work very rewarding. You get to see and learn a lot about working life, and you get to be a part of building a better future while helping your colleagues.