News from LO

Dare to choose the welfare state 2013/04/04

The welfare state is a less stable basis than we often assume. Those middle-aged pay today for the care they will receive when they get old. This is a long-term commitment. If the quality is poor or the system is perceived as unstable, they may be forced to barter away welfare state as strategy. This is explained in LO economists’ new report. Publicly-financed consumption constitutes a large part of the Swedish economy. The value of individual publicly-financed consumption, such as education and health care, represents about 40 per cent of household disposable income.

The labour market and LO must be made more equal 2013/03/15

In spite of decades of work, politicians, trade unions, employers and citizens have not managed to eliminate the prevailing inequality in society. LO now, in its capacity as trade union organisation, makes fresh efforts to boost equality in working life as well as within LO. Still, equality is making slow progress. Men have higher salaries compared to women in nine out of the ten biggest occupational groups. Unpaid work continues to be women’s lot. As regards the parental insurance, few men make use of more than the two stipulated months. Women, on the other side, have not access to power to the same extent as men, neither on boards of directors, nor in unions or politics.

ILO: Swedish Laval Legislation Violates Freedom of Association 2013/02/27

In its annual report, the ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR) has found the legislation that Sweden adopted as a result of the EU Court of Justice’s ruling in the Laval case to be in violation of fundamental trade union rights.

Exploitation of immigrant workers not to pass unpunished 2013/01/31

Lately we have once again witnessed how workers are exploited under almost slavish conditions in the Swedish labour market. This time focus is on Cameroon guest workers who came to Sweden to afforest with the promise of a salary of SEK 18,500/month (approx. Euro 2,145) and an additional SEK 6,000 (approx. Euro 695) as subsistence allowance. On arrival, the salary agreement was turned into piecework and suddenly they were to receive SEK 0.22 (approx Euro 0.03) per plant. In order to obtain the same amount as the original salary, they would have had to work day and night setting 3,500 plants daily. This is twice as much as an experienced forest worker is capable of doing and this was thus a slave contract.

LO strategy for restriction of profits in the welfare system 2013/01/23

LO demands in the 2013 round of wage negotiations 2012/10/19

Nordic Trade Unions’ congress focused on sustainable working life 2012/09/28

LO condemns detentions of trade unionists in Turkey 2012/07/02

Class and gender decisive of privileges and benefits at work 2012/06/15

The Swedish Trade Union Confederation is preparing a between-election strategy for a change of government 2012/05/28

The Swedish Trade Union Confederation’s demands regarding public procurement 2012/05/28

Newly elected President of the Swedish Trade Union Confederation Karl-Petter Thorwaldsson: “We will fight the Government for full employment!” 2012/05/28

The Swedish Trade Union Confederation calls for a stop to violations of trade union freedoms and rights in the EU 2012/05/28

Seven trade union voices on Europe in crisis 2012/05/27

Tobias Baudin and Ingela Edlund Vice Presidents of the Swedish Trade Union Confederation 2012/05/27

The Swedish Trade Union Confederation is to fight to reduce pay gaps and for the right to minimum pay levels 2012/05/27

Torbjörn Johansson new LO Negotiating Secretary 2012/05/27

Continued work for equal pay 2012/05/26

The Swedish Trade Union Confederation Congress calls for restored unemployment policy 2012/05/26

Unemployment insurance funds are an insurance to be strengthened – not benefits that will lapse 2012/05/26