Tehy, the trade union, represents qualified health care professionals, social workers and students of these professions in both the private and the public sectors. Tehy is the largest union in these fields in Finland and has over 160,000 members. Tehy campaigns for improvements and development in the Finnish health and social care and endeavours to influence education and labour force policies. Representing the interests of its members is the most important task of Tehy. It negotiates and bargains the collective agreements of terms and conditions of work. Tehy bears a strong societal influence and is an equal opportunities pioneer in the world of work in Finland. The headquarters of Tehy is in Helsinki. The regional offices and branches are spread over the whole of Finland. The representations of the interests of the Tehy membership is conducted, at the local level, by the shop stewards and the 270 Tehy brances.