LO is facing “a new kind of enemy,” says LO chairman Johan Lindholm ahead of the upcoming wage negotiations.
This time, employers have actually taken things to a whole new level. And that’s why I say we’re facing a new kind of enemy,” Johan Lindholm says at a press conference.
He points out, among other things, that employers “refuse to even negotiate with us about our joint demands for shorter weekly working hours.” He also mentions the agreement on joint insurance terms, which LO has terminated with the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise.
There could be a strike here, Lindholm says.
Discuss internally
The LO unions have agreed to support each other by taking industrial action to reduce working hours, in line with the systems, time banks and other arrangements already in place at the various unions.
We have promised each other that unions that want to shorten working hours in this way will have the support of the other unions, says LO contract secretary Veli-Pekka Säikkälä.
LO is not putting forward any new general demands for reduced working hours in this round of negotiations. Transport has therefore entered a reservation.
“The background is that Transport does not believe today’s proposal meets the LO Congress’s 2024 decision on working hours.”
Seko has also entered a reservation.
“Our reservation is about a formality. We will take a position on the coordination at a later board meeting, no later than November 27,” Seko’s press service writes in a text message to TT.
“A compromise”
Kommunal says coordinating the unions has been a tough process.
Everyone has had to give and take. It is truly a compromise, and this is as far as we got this time. But it is a strength that we can unite behind this, says union chairwoman Malin Ragnegård.
Higher wage increases for everyone, with larger percentage increases for the lowest-paid workers, are among the other joint demands. The unions will report back in a few weeks on the size of the percentage increase LO will demand.
The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, for its part, says that a “downshift in the rate of wage increases” is required.
“International competition is razor-sharp, while the recovery in the Swedish economy is fragile and large parts of the industry are experiencing pressure on profitability,” says Deputy CEO Mattias Dahl in a written comment.
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