SASK

What is SASK?

The Trade Union Solidarity Centre of Finland SASK is the workers’ rights organization of the trade unions of Finland. I am one of the volunteer ambassadors of SASK, taking regularly part on lectures and training about organization’s field of work.

In that capacity, I wanted to make an international post about how SASK works around the world. Solidarity Centre is indeed an globally working organization itself. It’s focus is on development projects and International Labour Rights.

You can read the English brief from SASK homepage here: What is SASK.

Labour rights are human rights

This matter is stated clearly by International Labour Organization ILO and it is one of the fundamental matters in my ideology. I have devoted a lot of time over years to support and promote human rights in general. Labour rights being included to them is a natural thing.

How SASK works globally?

SASK provides training and information. Development programs aim to strengthen local trade unions and interest groups. Goal is to empower these local groups to successfully work for the change toward better.

Partners are mostly other trade unions, taking interest of local development. SASK has currently 31 active projects around the world.

Global campaigns include active topics against forced labour, child labour and discrimination. SASK also supports Puhtaat Vaatteet campaign, which is part of the international Clean Clothes Campaign.

How SASK volunteers are learning?

SASK-ambassadors have pretty good tool pack in our disposal. Organization is happy to train it’s volunteers and does so often. My calendar tends to have regular reservations for various meetings, often over the Internet.

Meetings includes hefty information packages about development projects, social media skills, campaigns, partner projects and other various topics. SASK does not left us wanting in that regard. The information doesn’t only support the work of SASK, but empowers us – it’s volunteers – to work on wider range of topics around human and labour rights.

And that is the important part. While we work to inform and empower our partners, we do the same for ourselves.

More to follow

This was a quick look of the organization. I will be posting more about SASK and it’s campaigns, when ever there is something new and interesting developing.

I am interested of knowing if your home country has similar organizations? How do they work and where?

And if you are a member of Finnish trade union and have interest toward human rights, feel free to browse and follow social media channels for SASK. If the fire sparks, you might even consider taking the SASK-ambassador course and joining us there.