Education in English
Training courses at Murikka Institute are available to all members of the Industrial union and are covered by the Study Leave Act. The law states that the employer must allow an employee to study. Your employer may deny your participation only if reorganizing the work during your absence will cause considerable inconvenience. In case of refusal, you should jointly agree on admission to the next possible course. Agree on your participation in the training with your employer. When applying through Telmo online course calendar, fill in your employer’s contact information and your application will be sent to the employer for acceptance. Once your participation is also approved by the union, you will receive an invitation via email.
Get compensation on the loss of earnings
If your employer allows you to be absent from work in order to study and that will cause you loss of earnings, the Industrial Union will cover it by paying a tax free training allowance and a training scholarship totaling €91,71/day.
The loss of earnings compensation will only be paid if the loss of earnings has actually arisen. If you are on annual leave or other kind of paid leave during the course, there will be no loss of earnings. A certificate on the loss of earnings from the employer is required.
Participate free of charge
All this is free for you as a union member. Once you are accepted to the training by the Industrial Union, the participation will be free without any costs. Stay at Murikka hotel and enjoy the tasty meals of Murikka restaurants for free. The union will cover up the cost of teaching and course materials. Also, your travel costs will be compensated.
- Travel tickets can be ordered in advance according to the instructions in the course invitation. Before ordering, it is advisable to find out the method and times of travel.
- If there are no suitable public transport connections, you may arrive by your own car and get a reimbursement. See the amount of reimbursement here.
Enjoy Murikka Institute
In Murikka Institute, you will stay comfortably in a hotel room with your own bathroom, air conditioning and TV. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at the restaurant. After a study day, you have an opportunity to enjoy free time in the scenic surroundings of Murikka. Get active at the sports hall or gym. Relax in the spa or sauna by the lake. Murikka’s fine landscape on the shore of lake Näsijärvi is perfect for outdoor activities, like hiking and jogging. Note that not all the courses are held in Murikka Institute.
See below our courses in English. All other courses are in Finnish or Swedish.
Stronger Together – Organizing Under the Industrial Union
So, you’ve joined the Industrial Union – but what exactly is a union? How has the Finnish trade union movement developed, and why is it unique compared to other countries? Most importantly, how can you and your co-workers protect your rights by organizing and working together? If you’re curious about any of these questions, this course is for you!
Target Group: Union members with a foreign background who can follow instruction in English.
NB! The training is particularly suitable for new members and those who have not previously taken part in union trainings.
Course Content: This course will introduce you to the purpose and history of the Finnish trade union movement, while also giving you practical tools and ideas for becoming active in the Industrial Union. Through lectures, discussions, and exercises, you will learn how to organize with your colleagues and safeguard your interests in the workplace.
The course is free of charge, held in English, and travel costs will be reimbursed.
| 28th February – 1st March | Sokos Hotel Vuokatti |
| 14th – 15th March | Sokos Hotel Tripla, Helsinki |
| 28th – 29th March | Hotel Kakola, Turku |
| 11th – 12th April | Sokos Hotel Torni, Tampere |
Rules of Working Life
If you are looking to understand Finnish labor laws, collective agreements, or Finnish working life in general, this course is for you!
Target Group: Union members with a foreign background who can follow instruction in English.
NB! This course is for first-time attendees only. If you have already attended this course before, we offer you the opportunity to participate in the Union News course.
Course Content: The aim of the course is to acquaint you with the rules of Finnish working life and to provide information on the rights and obligations of an employee through lectures, discussions, and exercises.
The course is free of charge, held in English, and travel costs will be reimbursed.
| 20th – 22nd May | Murikka Institute |
Union News
If you’ve already completed the Rules of Working Life course and want to deepen your knowledge, or if you are interested in current working life topics, this course is for you!
Rather than revisiting the basics of working life, the Union News course offers a deeper look into a wider array of working life topics.
The Union News course features an annually changing theme. In 2026 the focus is on occupational safety and health in the workplace.
Target Group: Union members with a foreign background who can follow instruction in English.
NB! As the theme changes every year, you may attend this course multiple times.
Course Content: In this course you will learn about the responsibilities of both employers and employees in maintaining a safe work environment. The course covers the fundamentals of occupational safety legislation and explores both physical and psychosocial risk factors in the workplace. You will hear real-life case examples and engage in discussions to explore best practices and effective solutions for improving workplace safety and well-being.
The course is free of charge, held in English, and travel costs will be reimbursed.
| 11th – 13th November | Murikka Institute |
Basic Course for Shop Stewards
This course aims to familiarize Shop Stewards with their rights and obligations, the various sources of legislation that regulate or affect employment relationships, as well as the provisions of collective agreements.
Target Group: Elected Shop Stewards with a foreign background who can follow instruction in English.
Course Content: After completing the course, you will be able to:
- Understand the key rights and responsibilities of a Shop Steward
- Identify relevant legislation that governs employment relationships
- Locate specific laws, chapters, sections, and subsections within labor legislation
- Apply the appropriate laws or provisions from collective agreements in various situations
- Define key goals, when preparing for negotiations at the workplace
The course is free of charge, held in English, and travel costs will be reimbursed.
| 12th – 16th October | Murikka Institute |