Transferring from another union

How can I join the Unemployment Fund for Higher Educated Employees Erko when I am a member of another unemployment fund?

You can only change unemployment funds during employment. If you are unemployed or on child care leave, for instance, you may not change your unemployment fund. The employment requirement also applies to students who wish to change their unemployment fund.

Your membership will begin on the day when your application arrives at Akava Special Branches, unless you request that your membership starts on some other date. We recommend having your membership begin at the start of the month, to facilitate the calculation of membership fees.

Your membership of the Unemployment Fund for Higher Educated Employees Erko begins after you have been approved as a member of Akava Special Branches. The membership fee for Erko is included in the membership fee you pay to the union.

You will receive a confirmation on becoming a member of Akava Special Branches and the unemployment fund by mail within a few weeks.

When can I resign from my previous unemployment fund and union?

When you wish to change your unemployment fund, start by sending your application to Akava Special Branches. Submit your resignation notice to the previous unemployment fund/union only after your new membership has been confirmed. This ensures the uninterrupted continuation of your membership. Working time outside the validity of the membership is not covered by the insurance so it does not accumulate the condition regarding previous employment.

The working time and insurance periods accumulated during membership at an unemployment fund are transferred as such to the new unemployment fund if the change of funds takes place within one month. You must pay the membership fees for the old unemployment fund/union until the resignation moment, following the rules of the fund/union in question.

If you exceed the one-month transfer time, you must re-accumulate the working time and insurance periods in the new fund.

You cannot be a member of two unemployment funds at the same time. You must take care of cancelling your membership at the other fund/union independently.

Unemployment Fund Act (in Finnish) http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/1984/19840603

Unemployment Fund for Higher Educated Employees Erko