Four more blue-collar trade unions plan to merge

In 2005, four trade unions in the building sector affiliated to the blue-collar Swedish Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) are investigating the possibility of a merger. Two major LO unions in industry recently decided to merge in 2006.

At the end of 2004, four blue-collar trade unions affiliated to the Swedish Confederation of Trade Unions (Landsorganisationen, LO) announced that they had started to investigate the conditions of a future merger. They will present a proposal for such a merger in 2006. The unions concerned are the Swedish Building Workers’ Union (Svenska Byggnadsarbetareförbundet, Byggnads), the Swedish Electricians’ Union (Svenska Elektrikerförbundet, SEF), the Building Maintenance Workers’ Union (Fastighetsanställdas Förbund, Fastighets) and the Swedish Painters’ Union (Svenska Målareförbundet), all of which organise members in the building and building maintenance sectors. This is the second probable merger of LO unions announced lately. In autumn 2004, the Swedish Metalworkers’ Union (Svenska Metallindustriarbetareförbundet, Metall) and the Industrial Labour Union (Industrifacket) decided to merge at the beginning of 2006 (SE0410101N)

The driving force behind the possible merger of the four building sector trade unions is a mutual wish for stronger representation at the workplace and more influence in collective bargaining. Byggnads has about 130,000 members, Fastighets 40,000 members, SEF 17,000 members and the Painters’ Union also 17,000 members. Another expected gain of a merger is a rationalisation of structures and greater cost-effectiveness. The possible new building sector union would have over 200,000 members, making it the third-largest LO union after following the 600,000-strong Municipal Workers’ Union (Svenska Kommunalarbetareförbundet, Kommunal) and the 380,000-strong Metall.