A new President for Akava (the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland) for the next four-year term will be elected in August. The current President Sture Fjäder, who has held the position since 2011, has indicated his desire to continue in the position. Also Service Director Maria Teikari runs as the Social Science Professionals’ (Yhteiskunta-alan korkeakoulutettujen liitto YKA) candidate for President.
The Finnish Union of University Researchers and Teachers (FUURT) has set out to support Teikari.
“We have hoped for an open election to discuss the future President’s agenda, the future direction of the trade union movement and Akava’s ways of meeting the challenges of the organisation. Teikari is familiar with the challenges of working life and has been creating new ways of meeting and helping people,” says Maija S. Peltola, President of the FUURT.
President candidate Maria Teikari is a well-networked expert of the new working life, a pioneer in the working life debate and a visionary leader. She has worked for more than 15 years in organisations, companies, the state and municipalities. Teikari has more than a decade of leadership experience. She currently works as a Service Director at the Social Science Professionals (Yhteiskunta-alan korkeakoulutettujen liitto YKA).
“To be successful, Akava needs an innovative leader who understands the demands and skills of future working life. In my vision, the Akava of the 2020s is an agile service organisation,” says Maria Teikari.
Teikari wants to promote a constant dialogue with the members and the rest of society. According to her, it is necessary to examine the state of the entire trade union movement boldly and openly.
“The election of a President is one of the most significant moments of democracy in any organisation and a great place to discuss the future of the organisation. Such a choice should never be made with some jointly agreed request but by presenting genuine alternatives, with a fair competition between the candidates. We have to offer a great candidate to lead the Akava community into a new era”, says Simo Pöyhönen, Executive Director of YKA.