1	Swedish IRHRM: Themes and Contexts Lecture 1 of 4 Themes and Contexts
2	Administrative Reading for Next class
3	Review ‑ The Canadian and British Systems Extensive versus Limited Legal Intervention ‑ both becoming more legalistic The Bargaining Systems Differences and similarities in structure Differences and similarities in topics Conflict ‑ differences in patterns
4	Today Themes Contexts
5	I‑ Themes of Swedish Industrial Relations Voluntarism Corporatism System that promotes technical progress and economic growth Recent changes in all of those features
6	II‑ The Contexts of Industrial Relations in Sweden The Political Context Population of 9 million 2005 Parliamentary Democracy and Monarchy‑1 house Parliament - proportional representation Social Democratic Party (SAP)
7	II‑ Political Context Other Parties Center Liberal Moderate Christian Democrats Left Party Greens New Feminist Party 2005
8	II‑ Political Context Politically very stable system Voting patterns quite class based Member EU since 1995
9	II‑ The Contexts of Industrial Relations in Sweden Technological Context One of most technologically advanced countries in the world Among highest levels of labor productivity in world Per capita highest level of computers and robots in world Standard of Living Rose rapidly in post‑war period GDP per capita
10	II‑ Technological Context Well‑endowed with natural resources Principal goods‑producing industries Mining Forestry Manufacturing
11	II‑ The Contexts of Industrial Relations in Sweden Economic Context One of most open economies in world Welfare State Comprehensive free medical care Unemployment benefits Poverty virtually non-existent
12	II‑ Economic Context Taxes ‑ Among most highly taxed people in world Distribution of work force Highest labor force participation rates in world Highest female participation rates of all developed countries Unemployment Rate
13	II‑ Economic Context Capital predominantly in private hands High labor costs
14	Next Time Ideology Labor Movement Employer Organization
15	Swedish IR ‑ Ideology and The Labor Movement Lecture 2 of 4 Ideology, Labor Movement, Employer Organization
16	Administrative Reading for Next Class Paper Reminder – 10/24
17	Review Parliamentary Democracy Technologically Developed Highly Productive Welfare State
18	Today Ideology Unions Alternative Federations Social Democratic Party Employer Organization
19	I‑ Ideology Societal Ideology Party Ideologies on IRHRM Ideologically overall this system shows as much compatibility as any
20	II‑ The Unions Manual unions organized by industry Union Structure Well developed plant structure Branch level or local National Union
21	II‑ The Unions Largest unions Union finances Principally dues Unions have some sizable business investments
22	II‑ Union Density One of highest in world Reasons Cultural Ideological Training Unemployment benefits, and some others, run through unions
23	II‑ Unions – The LO Confederation of Swedish Trade Unions Founded 1898 as SAP affiliate Membership LO probably the most centralized & powerful union center among the western nations High powered economic research unit
24	III‑ Alternative Federations TCO ‑ Central Organization of Salaried Employees SACO ‑ Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations LO has organized about 90% of potential members and TCO and SACO about 80%
25	IV‑ Social Democratic Party (SAP) General Relationship to Unions Structure of the Relationship Affiliation is by and through union branches LO, no formal affiliation Left Party
26	V‑ Employer Organization For IRHRM Structure - SAF Swedish Employers’ Confederation Association of associations Financial Structure Unaffiliated to political parties
27	V- SAF Policy Powers Public sector has separate negotiating groups
28	V. Merger 2001 SAF merged with Federation of Swedish Industries New organization is the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise - SN
29	Next Time Government Organization Procedural Rules – Law Procedural Rules – Collective Bargaining Substantive Rules
30	Swedish IRHRM ‑ Government, Law and Bargaining Structure Lecture 3 of 4 Government Organization, Law, Collective Bargaining and Substantive Rules
31	Administrative Reading for Next Class – second reading on Sweden Collect papers
32	Review Parliamentary Democracy in Highly Developed Welfare State Extensive unionization in occupationally divided unions Close relations to party which is usually in power Highly organized employers
33	Today Government Role Framework of Procedural Rules Voluntary Framework of Rule Making – Collective Bargaining Substantive Rules
34	I‑ Government Role Government has traditionally abstained from interference in substantive terms in the private sector Government employees able to negotiate and strike 1993 Government temporarily set aside some aspects of certain collective bargaining agreements that unions had negotiated
35	II‑ The Framework of Procedural Rules – Public Policy Basic legal framework established in 1928 Act Collective Bargaining Agreements legally enforceable and peace obligation imposed while agreements in force Labor Courts to interpret and enforce agreements 1936 Act required union recognition on request
36	II‑ Public Policy Shift toward increased legal intervention 1970s 1974 law extended collective bargaining obligation Act on Joint Regulation of Working Life ‑ 1976 Other changes which are important but don't regulate collective bargaining per se 1972 law gave unions right to appoint 2 voting representatives on the board of each company with >100 employees Work Environment Acts of 1974 and 1978 gave unions major role in workplace safety
37	III‑ The Voluntary Framework of Rulemaking: Collective Bargaining Collective bargaining widespread and almost universal for manual workers The Basic Agreement LO and SAF negotiated agreement in 1938 Compromise based on economic growth
38	III‑ The Voluntary Framework of Rulemaking The Basic Agreement Established Labor Market Committee to deal with issues arising under the agreement Describes the negotiation procedures Hiring, layoffs, etc. ‑ Management given complete discretion here as long as no anti‑unionism Handling of disputes threatening essential services
39	III‑ Bargaining Structure Initially industry‑wide bargaining In 1941 LO expanded its right to be present at industry negotiations to the right to make proposals Equivalent powers on SAF side. Since 1905 no affiliated association can sign industry agreement without SAF approval National Framework Agreements Beginning 1956 industry negotiations preceded by framework agreement negotiated by LO and SAF These set cost limits on industry agreements
40	III‑ Bargaining Structure Central & industry level bargaining has been carried out by elite of LO & SAF 1990 SAF said it would again refuse to negotiate framework agreements 1990s employers seemed to be trying to move bargaining down from industry to enterprise level 1997 revisions
41	IV‑ Substantive Terms and Conditions of Employment Legislatively determined Traditionally little of this but trend has been toward more Now covers hours of work, holidays, social insurance and safety Determination by Negotiations "December Compromise" LO & SAF 1906 Traditionally, then, management insisted on & unions allowed full scope to modernize, rationalize, automate, etc..
42	IV‑ Determination by Negotiations Wages In past, central negotiation had been the crucial level LO policy of "wage solidarity" accepted reluctantly by SAF Equal pay for equal job Narrowing wage differentials Women earn 89% men's wages, highest ratio anywhere
43	IV‑ Substantive Terms and Conditions of Employment Determination by Negotiations Industry‑wide v Local issues Typically industry agreements specify minimum wages Widespread use of piecework (2/3 of employees) Piecework negotiations major activity of factory clubs Less vacation and holiday time than Germany and France but more than other countries in course Quality of Worklife Issues Sex Discrimination
44	Next Time Conflict Administrative Rules Comparisons
45	Swedish IRHRM ‑ Conflict, Enforcement of Rules, Comparisons Lecture 4 of 4 Conflict, Administrative Rules, Comparisons
46	Administrative Reading for next class - France
47	Review Organization of Employers and government Legal Framework and its changing Direction Outline of Bargaining System
48	Today Industrial Conflict Administrative Rules – Enforcement and Interpretation of Agreements Themes and Comparisons
49	I‑ Industrial Conflict Early History At start of 20^th century Sweden had one of the highest levels of conflict in the world Post-World War II period union leadership came to see strikes negatively and level dropped to one of lowest in world Limitations and restrictions on conflict Must give 7 days notice of industrial action No strikes during agreement
50	I‑ Industrial Conflict Limitations and restrictions on conflict On union side Secret ballot Even then executive can over-rule LO secretariat has final say. TCO does not On employer side, SN must consent to all lockouts & may order employers to lockout Virtually never replace strikers
51	I‑ Recent Strike Experience Since 1945 Few official strikes 1980 worst conflict since 1940s and gave Sweden worst strike record of all major countries for that year 1999-03 - Higher work days lost than Germany or Britain but lower than other countries in course
52	I‑ Industrial Conflict Toys-R-Us affair 1995 3-month strike against this American Co. Company refused to sign agreement negotiated by retail employer association and recommended by mediator Company also issued rules Swedes found insulting Unions insisted company would have to abide by Swedish practices or close down Signed individual agreement but virtually identical to industry one
53	II‑ Enforcement & Interpretation of Agreements Procedure Most bargaining agreements have detailed provisions for negotiation of grievances Then usually Labour Courts (tri‑partite) Accordingly, in Sweden like Canada and the US, no‑strike understanding is collateral to a comprehensive disputes procedure
54	III‑ Themes and Comparisons Voluntarism Corporatism System that promotes technical progress and economic growth Recent changes in all of those features Comparisons to other systems
55	Next Time Begin France Check Atlapedia and Labourstart