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8 February, 2001The longest contract ever for Sweden's engineering sector has been signed.
SWEDEN: A national agreement covering the Swedish engineering sector has been finalised by the Swedish Metalworkers' Union (Svenska Metall), the Swedish Union of Clerical and Technical Employees in Industry (SIF), the Swedish Association of Graduate Engineers (CF), and the Swedish Engineering Employers' Association (VF) on February 8, 2001. The agreement, which runs from February 1, 2001, to March 31, 2004, covers 200,000 blue-collar workers and 110,000 white-collar workers.
The pact, reached by two contracted mediators, contains the following guaranteed wage increases for the manual workers:
- 2.3% for 2001,
- 2.5% for 2002,
- 2.2% for 2003.
Wage increases are approximately the same for the non-manual sector.
Average monthly pay for Swedish metalworkers is 17,500 krona (US$1,811).
The contract provides for a shortening of working time - 30 minutes less per week, for the term of the agreement. This result was reached without any changes in flexibility, which had been one of the employers' main demands.
The parties have also agreed on a new regulation for vocational training in the workplace, clearly stating the right of all workers to training, with special attention given to those with low wage increases.
The pact, reached by two contracted mediators, contains the following guaranteed wage increases for the manual workers:
- 2.3% for 2001,
- 2.5% for 2002,
- 2.2% for 2003.
Wage increases are approximately the same for the non-manual sector.
Average monthly pay for Swedish metalworkers is 17,500 krona (US$1,811).
The contract provides for a shortening of working time - 30 minutes less per week, for the term of the agreement. This result was reached without any changes in flexibility, which had been one of the employers' main demands.
The parties have also agreed on a new regulation for vocational training in the workplace, clearly stating the right of all workers to training, with special attention given to those with low wage increases.