The agreement reached by social partners is a bid to pre-empt government action. Following recurring quarrels at the port of Gothenburg (see article n°10546), the labour minister, with the support of some unions, complained that the right to strike in its existing form no longer conforms with the Swedish model and expedited a 2017 inquiry into the matter. With the report having been delivered on 8 June 2018, the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO), the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees (TCO) and the Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations (Saco) sped up efforts to reach a common stance with the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise (Svenskt Nâringsliv), which was presented on 5 June.
First objective: take control of the situation. Several observers have described the agreement as “historic” and hailed social partners’ closely-aligned commitment to find a solution that benefits everyone. The issues raised by the dispute in Gothenburg are linked to several common concerns, such as how to manage union representation at companies where numerous unions can exist side by side. The parties were also united in their desire for the Swedish government not to take control and decide.
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