(9 September 2016) The Swedish union Kommunal elected a new President at its Congress in June. Tobias Baudin followed up Annelie Nordstrom. EPSU’s General Secretary met Tobias 8 September. They addressed the economic and social developments in Europe. The increase in support for extreme right parties and their xenophobia and nationalism tears European countries apart. This does not abode well for working people. The debate on the Future of Europe in the ETUC is therefore important for the unions. Tobias has been a member of the ETUC Executive for LO-Sweden previously. Making sure that the European Union delivers social progress is key to restore confidence lost. The EU needs to be democratic. The deals of governments between themselves without role and place for the European Commission and European Parliament undermines the longer-term strength. That debate must recognize the role of public services, lead to more investment and quality job creation
Other issues addressed included the growing concerns over trade, the organizing work in Kommunal and what the union is doing to fight welfare capitalism in Sweden. Private companies in elderly care seek to make large profits while delivering no better quality or pay. A broad based committee is established by the government to address this. One of the proposals floating around has been to cap the profit margin (its rate of return on invested capital) a company could make. The Committee will publish its results in November. With other colleagues in Kommunal he discussed the strategic organizing experience and relevance for the work EPSU is doing in especially Central and Eastern Europe.
Colleagues of Vardforbundet informed about the practices of the Lithuanian recruitment agency Orange. It has been accused of social dumping in both Norway and Sweden. It is increasingly active in Finland. The company lost its contracts in Norway. The Norwegian labour inspectorate has criticized the company for several violations of the labour law. This risks happening in Sweden as the employers organization Almega has issued a statement that could lead to revoking the license of the company if it does not change its method. This decision is expected in September.
Sweden
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