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Membership Of The Finnish Musicians Union
APPLYING FOR MEMBERSHIP A musician can apply for membership in the union by filling up the membership application. In addition to filling in personal information, you choose one of the 25 local branches you want to join. Membership applications can be found at the union office, local branches and symphony orchestra shop stewards. The application can also be printed from our website (www.muusikkojenliitto.fi). The same application is used in applying for membership in the unemployment fund and the sick fund. Students and part-time members cannot become members of the unemployment fund. They can join the fund later, after they have become full-time professionals. This can be done by a written notification to the union office. MEMBERSHIP FEES Employer collection If the new member has a permanent employment contract with a symphony orchestra, theatre orchestra or the Finnish National Opera (orchestra, choir, ballet, office), he/she fills up a power of attorney, according to which the employer can collect the membership fee from his/her salary and account it to the union. From the 1st of January 2009, the membership fee is 1 % of the gross salary (salary before withholding taxes) plus 6,50 euros per month for unemployment fund. Power of attorneys can be found at the union office, local branches and symphony orchestra shop stewards. Musicians’ union and local branches receive a copy of the power of attorney from the employer. Bank collection Those musicians, who are not permanently employed, pay their membership fee through bank collection. They give an estimation of their monthly salary in the membership application. The membership fee category is based on the estimated salary. The bill for the membership fee is sent quarterly, part-time members (SY) receive it twice a year. Membership fee categories for bank collection 2009
Example: Musician, whose gross salary (before withholding taxes) is between 1.470 and 1.899 euros, belongs to membership category CY. OY-category: students Membership fee for all full-time students is 7 euros per month. A person can belong to the student category for a maximum of five (5) years or until graduation, whichever comes first. Student membership fee for students does not include the unemployment fund. Student members get all other union benefits. These include legal help, free lending of the sound equipment, union insurance and the monthly Muusikko magazine. Students are members of the sick fund (after the normal qualifying period). TY-category Membership fee in the TY category is 50 euros per year. The fee does not include fees for the sick fund nor the unemployment fund. Members in this category are typically either on retirement or disability pension. Members in this category can receive legal aid only based on a decision by the union board. Membership fee is collected once a year. MOVING If a member moves permanently to another city, he/she should also transfer to the relevant local branch. Moving should be reported to the union office. If a member transfers to another trade union, he/she has to organize the transfer him/herself. The same applies if a member wants to transfer to the Musicians Union from another trade union. Musicians Union organizes the transfer to other Nordic musicians’ unions. CHANGE OF ADDRESS OR NAME Changes of address or name have to be reported both to the union office and to the unemployment fund office. EXEMPTION FROM THE MEMBERSHIP FEE A member can apply for an exemption from the membership fee during the time he/she is on maternity or family leave or in the military service. In each case the exemption can last for a maximum of one year. The union board can also grant the exemption due to a long illness or disability to work. In these cases the exemption can last for a maximum of one year and can be granted to the unsalaried period. A member cannot be exempted from the unemployment fund fee. Always contact the union office if your membership fee category is about to change. WITHDRAWAL FROM THE MEMBERSHIP Withdrawal from the union membership has to be done with a written notification to the union office or to the local branch. Withdrawal is valid from the end of the next month following the notification. Members whose membership fee is collected by the employer (permanently employed orchestra musicians) should make sure that their withdrawal has been completed. These members fill up a cancellation of the power of attorney. To end the membership, the musician also has to make a written notification to the union office or to the local branch. In many cases a former orchestra musician continues the membership as a part-time member in SY-category. DISMISSAL A member can be dismissed due to unpaid membership fees. If the fees have not been paid for a period of six months, the member is dismissed according to the union rules. Overdue payments are distrainable.
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