Christa Pessi, chairperson

I work in the retail sector at HOK-Elanto as a occupational safety and health representative, representing approximately 250 offices and 6,000 employees. I have a master's degree in community education and strong expertise in workplace development. I have worked in the retail sector for over 17 years, particularly at Prisma in various roles. I have been a member of PAM since 1991.

I serve as the first vice chair of the PAM council and as a member of the equality and non-discrimination committee. I consider positions of trust to be important opportunities to influence – in particular, I want to raise the profile of occupational safety and health representatives within the union.

I believe in working together – the union is its members. Please feel free to contact me if you have any thoughts or wishes regarding the activities of our branch.

Maija Vantos, vice chairperson and
study coordinator

I am a full-time union representative and occupational safety and health representative
at Lindex, representing approximately 500 employees. Well-being at work and employee rights are important to me.

This is my second term on the board, and I have been a member of PAM since 2013.

Marcus Krogell, secretary

I am a Finnish-Swedish trade professional with 20 years of experience. During these years, I have held various positions of trust both at work and in the union.

I served as the union representative at my workplace for over 10 years and then as an occupational safety and health representative
 for a couple of terms.

I have participated in the union congress three times. I am now in my second term on the union branch's board, serving as secretary.
My hope for the future is that the threshold for joining the union branch will be as low as possible.

Nina Hakanen, social media coordinator

I am a student from East Helsinki who cares deeply about trade union activities. Workers' rights are human rights! 

Ditmar Hasanaj, solidarity coordinator

I am 31 years old and originally from Albania. I currently live in the green neighborhood of Myllypuro in Helsinki.

I have a master's degree in law from the University of Tirana, and I currently work as a salesperson at a UFF second-hand store. This is my first term on the board.

As a member of the board and solidarity coordinator, I am committed to increasing the representation of immigrants in PAM. I believe that building a strong trade union requires the cooperation of all employees – solidarity is the key to our collective strength.

Let's work together to build a good everyday life and a better working life for everyone!

Pekka Kantelinen, study coordinator's partner

I am a 34 years old from Vantaa, a social and empathetic person who is easy to approach.

I have worked as a salesperson at HOK-Elanto since 2008 in several different chains, currently at Prisma.

Trade union activities are close to my heart and I am genuinely interested in developing the department's activities according to the wishes of the members. This is my first term as a member of the board.

Mari Laasio, working life coordinator

I am a 49 years old Helsinki resident. The role of working life coordinator is quite challenging and it is great to learn new things. You can contact me on any matter. If I don't know the answer, I will find out.

I have been a salesperson since 1999 and now
I work at HOK-Elanto in Alepa.

Positions of trust: Deputy member of the board of the unemployment fund in the service sectors, member of the regional committee of SAK's Uusimaa region, deputy member of the HOK-Elanto representative body and member of the board of the HOK-Elanto sickness fund.

Sari Suhonen, working life coordinator's partner

I am a 60 years old union activist with four adult children. I have been in PAM since 2004. During this time, both the union and my own union branch have offered me amazing training, trips and experiences, as well as wonderful new friends.

On the board, I want to be a promoter of employee benefits and opportunities and to hold on to the benefits I have achieved.

In my own work at Clas Ohlson, I am an occupational safety and health representative, and deputy union representative .

Let's do better together!

Jade Ylinen, youth coordinator

I am 20 years old and have been working in the retail sector for three years. I currently work at
K-Supermarket.

This is my first term on the board, and during this term I want to bring the views of everyone, but especially those of my own age group, to the fore. I also hope that we will be able to reach even more new members of the union through social media.

Miko Muinonen, youth coordinator's partner

I am 26 years old and have been working at K-Citymarket for five years.

I have been a workplace-specific occupational safety and health representative for the second year and represent a little over fifty employees. This is my first term as a deputy member of the board.

I am also active in youth activities and was elected to the 2025 steering group.
I am eager to learn new things and make an impact, and to do things together for a better working life.

Henna Vihavainen

I am in my forties and work as a legal advisor at HOK-Elanto Legal Services.

I am currently studying for my second year as a business economist in legal administration at Vaasa University of Applied Sciences (VAMK).

I am a long-time trade union activist and have also worked in the retail sector for 12 years at Prisma in the info-cashier department.

I have experience in the roles of occupational safety and health representative and union representative in the retail sector. This is my first term as a deputy member of the PAM001 board.