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3 May, 2010
Svenska Pappers, the Swedish Paperworkers Union, and the Forest Industry Employers’ Association (SFIF) reached agreement for 18,000 workers on 26 April, just minutes before a second set of industrial actions were to begin. Those strikes, if they had happened, would have shut a total of 12 pulp and paper mills in Sweden.
Strike action at six mills did occur on 16 April, taking 3,000 paperworkers out in protest against an industry attempting to make workers the scapegoats for the financial crisis. It was those strikes, the unified front of all Pappers members at 61 mills, and the threatened further strikes that gave better-than-average wage gains and contract terms to Pappers and its members.
The SFIF was the driving wedge in a multi-industry employers’ front that was aimed at Sweden’s paperworkers in an effort to shift the burden of the economic crisis onto workers. Pulp, paper, and packaging trade unions across the world recognised this and posted hundreds of solidarity messages to Pappers, all of which made their way to branch unions.
Svenska Pappers President Jan-Henrik Sandberg
The 26-day stand-off only ended when industry chieftains realised they were at the brink of another major set-back to Swedish pulp and paper exports. The union and SFIF agreed on a 22-month contract, totaling 3.4%, with the first increase taking effect 1 May and the second increase due on 1 April 2011. As part of that total pay package, an extra 0.4% additional increase was won for the lowest paid workers in the sector. That was one goal met by Pappers in its bargaining aims.
The other goals that were accomplished included continued company payments to a pension scheme for a period, an issue related to Swedish law, and tougher sanctions on employers who use and abuse workers hired through agency labour companies. In addition, the union’s grittiness both at the bargaining table and on the shop floor won supplementary insurance benefits for workers injured at work and an added month – from four to five – of paid parental leave.
“We were overwhelmed by the support and solidarity given us from around the world by so many different trade unions," said Svenska Pappers President Jan-Henrik Sandberg. “We passed these messages on to our branches and this support strengthened our resolve. We express our sincere gratitude for this outpouring of solidarity."