After several months of strife, the two parties are now in agreement, reports Sveriges Radio Ekot. However, from a union perspective, one is not satisfied:
No, I do not think any of our members are, regardless of whether one voted yes or no, says the union's vice chairman Erik Helgeson to TT.
If you are not satisfied now, why was it still a yes after the vote?
I think many, like the majority of the board, have felt that we have gotten stuck in a frontal confrontation that is locked in by prestige to a great extent. Trying to get out of that situation to get a better negotiation result, I think many believe will take too long.
A mirror lockout
The pay rises will now be, as in other places, at the level of the industry's mark. The background to the conflict is the notice that was issued by Svenska Hamnarbetarförbundet at the end of June for Göteborgs and Helsingborgs hamn. The union wanted to establish a joint social fund that will support employers who choose to rehabilitate employees in need after illness or injury.
However, the employer side chose to initiate a so-called mirror lockout, and the conflict has since been expanded to include more ports where both parties have extended their notices. The employer side has also sued the union in the Labor Court and has called the counterpart "left-wing union".
Even if an agreement is now signed, Erik Helgeson sees it as possible that the union's demands will return.
This is not a survival struggle for us. We have room to take a step back and return to the issue during the contract period that comes, he says.
