Trade Unions of Estonia

Trade Unions of Estonia include two major confederations, namely, EAKL, which is primarily manual and TALO, which is primarily non-manual. Although the union density at Estonia is low and is around 12%, it fell sharply in the 1990s. In the recent past however, it seems more stable since most of the union members are organized into two Trade Unions of Estonia, the EAKL and the TALO.

According to the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, there are presently approximately eighty thousand members at the Trade Unions in Estonia, which is around 12% of all employees. The Working Life Barometer survey done by the Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs, has estimated a union density of around 11% in the year 2005 in the Trade Unions at Estonia.

The Estonian Employees' Unions' Confederation or TALO was established on 29th September, 1992 with the office located at Tallinn. The total member strength of this Trade Unions of Estonia is approximately thirty thousand. Toivo Roosimaa is the key member of this trade union.

The Confederation of Estonian Trade Unions or the EAKL was established in the year 1917 as the Central Bureau of Trade Unions and has its office based at Tallinn. Among the two Trade Unions of Estonia, the EAKL has a member strength of 47,500 and also has Harri Taliga as the chairman.