The Finnish Musicians' Union ( fi, Suomen Muusikkojen Liitto ry, sv, Finlands Musikerförbund rf) is a

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ( ...

representing musicians in Finland. The union was founded in 1917, and was initially led by

Robert Kajanus Robert Kajanus (2 December 1856 – 6 July 1933) was a Finnish conductor, composer, and teacher. In 1882, he founded the Helsinki Orchestral Society, Finland's first professional orchestra. As a conductor, he was also a notable champion and in ...

. While most of the union's members, its leading figures were composers, but in 1945 they split away to form the Finnish Society of Composers. That year, the union affiliated to the

Finnish Federation of Trade Unions The Finnish Federation of Trade Unions ( fi, Suomen Ammattiyhdistysten Keskusliitto, SAK) was a national trade union centre in Finland. The federation was established in 1930, after the Finnish Trade Union Federation (SAJ) was banned. Its initial ...

(SAK), but it left in 1957. In 1974, it joined SAK's successor, the

Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions, usually referred to by the acronym SAK ( fi, Suomen Ammattiliittojen Keskusjärjestö; sv, Finlands Fackförbunds Centralorganisation, FFC) is the largest trade union confederation in Finland. Its ...

. As of 2020, the union had 3,605 members. About one-third of its members are orchestral musicians, soloists and conductors, and the remainder include popular musicians and ballet dancers. The union is a member of the

International Federation of Musicians The International Federation of Musicians (french: Federation Internationale des Musiciens, FIM) is a global union federation bringing together trade unions representing music performers. FIM counts member unions in 70 countries and three regional ...

and the Nordic Musicians' Union. The union owns Radio Helsinki, the G Livelab venue, and artists' residences in London, Berlin and

Raseborg Raseborg ( fi, Raasepori) is a town (administrative area) and municipality of Finland. It was created on January 1, 2009, when the municipalities of Ekenäs, Karis and Pohja were consolidated into a single town. Of these, Ekenäs now serves as t ...

External links

References

{{Authority control Musicians' trade unions Trade unions in Finland Trade unions established in 1917 1917 establishments in Finland