The Dockworkers' Union launched various industrial actions last week to try to get, among other things, a demand for stronger protection for union representatives.
The Swedish Ports, which recently signed a new collective agreement with the Transport Workers' Federation, claims that the industrial actions are illegal in light of the collective agreement.
But the Labour Court does not agree, and writes in an interim decision – i.e. pending the final verdict – that the employer's objections cannot be accepted.
"Very serious”
According to the Swedish Ports, it may jeopardize the entire Swedish model.
"If we negotiate and sign agreements with Transport, an LO union, and still do not get a peace obligation, what is the collective agreement worth?", says chief negotiator Johan Grauers in a press release.
The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise is also critical.
We will study this closely, but it is very serious and we will directly demand changes to the legislation, says vice president Mattias Dahl to TT.
"Find a solution”
The Labour Court's decision means that the Dockworkers' Union's notified industrial actions in the ports can continue.
Erik Helgeson, vice chairman of the Dockworkers' Union, welcomes the decision.
For us, it was anyway expected. Now there is a window to seek contact and to have more constructive negotiations and find a solution that both parties can accept, he says.
(TT) The Dockworkers' Union members went on strike on Wednesday last week between 12 pm and 6 pm in approximately 15 Swedish ports. On Thursday, the union members began strikes at selected companies in Gothenburg, Gävle, Karlshamn, Stockholm/Nynäshamn, Sundsvall, and Umeå/Holmsund. Strikes and other industrial actions (such as overtime blockades) have been notified for the ports in Halmstad, Helsingborg, Malmö, Kalix, Luleå, Piteå, Skellefteå, and Söderhamn.
