In Sweden, membership of trade unions is traditionally still very high. About 70 per cent of all employees are in a trade union, although this is a decline from 80 per cent at the turn of the century. There is no great difference between the figures for women and men.

Before deciding on substantial changes in a company’s activities or the duties or conditions of employment of an employee, an employer must on his own initiative enter into negotiations with trade unions at the company, provided that the employee belongs to a trade union to which he or she is bound under a collective agreement. 

Trade unions have far-reaching rights with regard to information and negotiation. For example, a trade union has the right to negotiate with the employer on all aspects of the relationship between the employer and any of the union’s members who are or have been employed by the employer. After negotiations the employer has the right of decision. Central wage agreements are entered into between trade unions and corresponding employer organisations. The money is then distributed locally within the company and the workplace. 

Sweden’s largest trade unions:

• Landsorganisationen i Sverige (LO) (Swedish Trade Union Confederation) is a confederation of 15 national trade union federations for blue-collar workers.
• Tjänstemännens Centralorganisation (TCO) (Swedish Confederation for Professional Employees) is a confederation of 17 trade union federations for white-collar workers.
• Sveriges Akademikers Centralorganisation (SACO) (Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations) is a confederation of 26 trade union federations for graduate professionals. 
  
  

   

Text last edited on: 11/2009