Pay settlements, Health, Sweden

Trade unions in the municipal sector have been negotiating with the SKR and Sobona employer organisations in local and regional government with differing outcomes so far. The Vision trade union, representing mainly white-collar workers has settled on the basis of a 3.3% general pay rise and commitments to a review of working hours and joint initiatives to deliver healthier workplaces. The Vårdförbundet health professionals’ union has gone to mediation mainly because it has major concerns over the employers’ proposals on working time and the work environment which it believes will mean worse

A new report from the Swedish Association of Health Professionals (SAHP) shows that more than four out of 10 young people up to the age of 29 do not believe that they will stay in healthcare for the rest of their working lives. One in five young people testify that the workload is so high with inadequate rest and recovery that it cannot be managed. The union argues that if young people leave the health care system, the existing staffing shortages will worsen. The report shows that more than half of young people feel that staffing is rarely or never sufficient and 85% believe that the workload

The Kommunal trade union with 350,000 members covered by the largest collective agreement in Sweden (1.2 million workers in local government) is seeking major improvements in the current negotiations. It wants to address the problem that many workers don’t understand the pay system and the criteria used to establish their salary. There are concerns that the system is arbitrary. The union also wants to see changes to working time with more worker control over their working time arrangements rather than leaving it to the discretion of management or algorithmic systems. Kommunal stresses that

Vårdförbundet, the trade union for health professionals has set out its main demands for shorter working hours and higher wages for the upcoming negotiations with the SALAR and Sobona employer organisations. The collective agreement covers 90,000 midwives, biomedical analysts, radiographers and nurses employed by municipalities and regions. A recent report by the union found that three out of 10 members work part time and many of these do so because they can't cope with full-time hours. Half say that the main reason is the need for rest and recovery. The survey also showed that one in two part

The Kommunal trade union has had an initial exchange with the SALAR and Sobona employer organisations ahead of the negotiations this spring on the largest collective agreement in Sweden, covering 1.2 million workers in healthcare, schools and social services. The union wants a new wage arrangement that provides a clear link between salary and professional development. Kommunal also wants a system that achieves sustainable working hours based on annual staffing surveys and with a move away from split shifts. According to the union the current pay system is too arbitrary and seven out of 10

The Kommunal municipal service workers’ trade union continues to negotiate collective agreements with a wide range of employers in a busy bargaining round. Workers in church and religious organisations are now covered by a new agreement running from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2025 while the agreement covering those in the sports sector applies from 1 November 2023 to 31 October 2025. In both cases the pay increases are in line with the main labour market trend. In the religious organisations there will be average salary increases of SEK 1037 (€89) this year and SEK 961 (€83) next year

The Kommunal trade union has negotiated two two-year collective agreements with the Fremia employers’ organisation that covers non-profit service providers. In the agreement with Fremia covering personal assistance, wage increases will be negotiated around an amount of at least SEK 993 (€84) from 1 October 2023 and at least SEK 875 (€74) from 1 October 2024. Minimum wage rates will be increased by SEK 1,350 (€115) from 1 January 2024 and by SEK 875 (€74) from 1 January 2025 while all allowances and supplements will be increased by 4.1% and 3.3% on the same dates. In the civil society agreement

The ST civil servants’ union, part of the OFR/S,P,O group of negotiating unions, concluded a new collective agreement with the Swedish Agency for Government Employers on 30 September. The overall wage development will be 7.4% over two years in line with wage trends in the export industry sector. There will be local negotiations at individual workplaces to determine how the increase is allocated. The agreement also provides for an improved holiday supplement, extra leave so that both parents will be entitled to time off for maternity clinic appointments and increased job security, with a six

Planned industrial action on 15 September was called off when the Kommunal municipal services union agreed a mediated deal with the Visita company that provides catering services to hospitals. A key issue for the union was to ensure that the pay settlement included specific provisions for the lower paid which is a central demand in the current collective bargaining round. The agreement runs for two years from 1 September 2023 and will mean increases to the minimum wage of SEK 1350 (€116) in year one and SEK 1100 (€95) in year two. The pot for general increases will be SEK 1036 (€89) in the

Negotiations over pay and other conditions between the Kommunal trade union and the Visita company that provides catering services for several hospitals have broken down. The union has announced that action by workers at many facilities will go ahead from 14:00 on 15 September unless the company returns to the negotiating table with a commitment to negotiate and particularly to address Kommunal’s proposals to support the lower paid. The union will also block any new hiring as well as implement an overtime ban. Kommunal argues that higher inflation means that it is crucial to deliver pay rises

The Kommunal trade union has negotiated a series of two-year agreements covering a wide range of workers including those working in building maintenance, sports facilities, veterinary care, animal care and training, agriculture and zoos and workplace plant services. The agreements follow the main labour market trend with a 7.4% increase over the two years, with 4.1% in the first year and 3.3% in the second. The agreement covering sports facilities provides for a specific pot for monthly increases for full-time employees of SEK 1029 (€87) in July 2023 and SEK 935 (€80) in July 2024.

Trade unions Kommunal and Vårdförbundet have negotiated a 29-month agreement covering the health and social care sector running from 1 May 2023 to 30 September 2025. Kommunal reports that the amount for increases for full-time employees on 1 May 2023 is SEK 1138 (€97) and SEK 1049 (€90) on 1 May 2024. The new minimum salary as of 1 October 2023 will be SEK 22203 (€1900) and SEK 24456 (€2090) for those with upper secondary education. The corresponding figures for 2024 will be SEK 23252 (€1990) and SEK 25505 (€2180). For Vårdförbundet the main elements include: salary increases in the first year

Kommunal and the Almega Vårdföretagarna employers’ organisation have negotiated two new collective agreements for employees working in private health and social care and eldercare both of which run from 1 June 2023 to 31 May 2025. In the private health and social care agreement, the minimum wage will be increased by SEK 1350 (€115) in 2023 and by 3.5% in 2024. The general wage rises will be SEK 1156 (€100) in 2023 and SEK 995 (€85) in 2024. The new minimum salary as of 1 December 2023 will be SEK 21297 (€1830) with a rate of SEK 24013 (€2060) for professionals. These rates will rise to SEK

Following mediation the Kommunal trade union has backed a new agreement with the Gröna Arbetsgivare employers’ organisation covering around 3000 workers in horticulture. The union had been planning strike action following the employers’ initial refusal to increase minimum wages in the agreement in line with the general labour market trend. Wages will increase by 4.1% from 1 May 2023 and by 3.3% from 1 May 2024. Minimum wages will be increased by between SEK 1330 (€115) and SEK 1350 (€117) in the first year and there will also be an additional payment in 2024.