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How to join?

Any individual engaged in working life or studying within higher education is welcome to join an Akava affiliate union. The unions welcome students, employees, self-employed professionals and entrepreneurs. The jaseneksi.fi service will help you in finding a suitable union on the basis of your field of education or your degree.

If you are in working life, you can contact the shop steward or representative of Akava unions at your workplace and they will assist you in selecting a suitable union.


The Association of Diaconal workers

The Association of Diaconal workers (Diakoniatyöntekijöiden Liitto, Dtl) is a trade union providing support for highly educated social and health care experts in their diaconal work. We have approx. 1,700 members. Students in the field are welcome to join the union. Our members are employed by parishes, municipalities, non-profit organisations and companies in the field of social and health care. We provide them with assistance especially in matters related to pay and other terms of employment.

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Tehtävä ja toiminta

We offer expertise regarding the status, working conditions and education of persons employed in the field. Through our negotiation organisation, we are involved in collective agreement negotiations to advance those goals that are important for employees with diaconal education. We issue recommendations, guidelines and statements on matters related to diaconal work, such as the number of diaconal offices, safety at work, pay, leadership, ethical principles for the profession and the ordination of deacons.

Who can join

You can become a member if you hold a degree from a university of applied sciences or a corresponding degree that qualifies you to a diaconal or educational office within the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland as approved by the Church Council. If you are studying for a degree described above, you may apply for student membership.

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