4 October, 2007The new Swedish union will represent 500,000 members making it the largest union in the private sector.
SWEDEN: The Salaried Employees' Union (HTF) has merged with the Swedish Union of Clerical and Technical Employees in Industries (Sif) to form Unionen, the largest union in the private sector with approximately half a million members.
The new union, approved by HTF and Sif congresses on October 3, 2007, will take affect on January 1, 2008, becoming the country's second largest union representing members in 66,000 workplaces throughout Sweden. Unionen will be comprised of 45,000 elected representatives and operate regional offices at 27 locations around the country.
Mari-Ann Krantz, currently president of Sif, will become the president of Unionen until the new trade union's congress is held in October 2008 and Bengt Olsson, now president of HTF, will become Unionen vice president. Stefan Carlsson, Sif, Cecilia Fahlberg, HTF, and Peter Hellberg, Sif, will become Unionen deputy vice presidents.
Sif is an affiliate of the International Metalworkers' Federation.