The Care Sector Union's fight for shorter working hours can spread and become a contentious issue in the upcoming industrial collective bargaining negotiations as well.
While the Care Sector Union's members are on strike, the groundwork is being laid for the upcoming negotiations on a new industrial agreement.
With low inflation and more interest rate cuts on the horizon, the economic outlook is generally good. A mild recession is on the verge of giving way and real wage increases are on the way back.
The trade unions will present their demands in the fall and the negotiations will get underway in early 2025. Shorter working hours may well be an issue then.
But the question is complex, according to Irene Wennemo.
Even Kerstin Hallsten, chief economist at the Industrial Employers' Association, sees it as a difficult issue from the employers' perspective.
Just a low productivity growth in industry is a concern ahead of the collective bargaining negotiations.
Sweden's total industrial production is expected to decrease by 1% this year and increase by 3.5% next year, according to a report from the Industrial Employers' Association and Teknikföretagen.
Among other things, investments in defense and climate are slowing things down, according to Kerstin Hallsten.
The industrial agreement sets a precedent for the entire labor market.
The current two-year agreement expires on March 31, 2025, and represents a total value of 7.4% – 4.1% in the first year and 3.3% in the second year.
Negotiations between the parties on a new agreement will begin at the turn of the year.
