In August 2004, the congress of the blue-collar Industrial Labour Union (Industrifacket) decided in favour of merging with the Swedish Metalworkers’ Union (Svenska Metallarbetareförbundet, Metall). On 7 September 2004, Metall’s congress voted unanimously for the same merger, which is now planned to take place on 1 January 2006.
In August-September 2004, the Swedish Metalworkers’ Union (Metall) and the Industrial Labour Union (Industrifacket) decided to merge from the beginning of 2006. Both unions belong to the LO confederation, and the merged organisation will have some 470,000 members.
In August 2004, the congress of the blue-collar Industrial Labour Union (Industrifacket) decided in favour of merging with the Swedish Metalworkers’ Union (Svenska Metallarbetareförbundet, Metall). On 7 September 2004, Metall’s congress voted unanimously for the same merger, which is now planned to take place on 1 January 2006.
Discussions over a possible merger between the two trade unions, both affiliates of the Swedish Confederation of Trade Unions (Landsorganisationen, LO), started seriously in October 2002 (SE0212101N). Shortly afterwards, a study of the various possible problems and advantages of a merger was conducted. The findings pointed to a series of economic and organisational advantages, which both unions acknowledged.
Metall currently has about 379,000 members and approximately 120 local/regional branches (avdelningar). The local branches vary in size. Many companies in the metalworking industry also have their own local union 'clubs'. The Metall branch in Gothenburg is the largest, with about 27,000 members. Industrifacket has about 90,000 members and 22 regional branches. The union organises workers mostly in parts of the chemicals industry, such as plastic, paints and medical products.
As indicated by the congress votes, the decision to merge is strongly supported by members of both Metall and Industrifacket. There appears to be only one significant stumbling block - that of the fit between the current organisational structure of the two unions, which have differing numbers of local branches. It is expected that some compromise will be proposed. In any case, the number of branches in the new union will most probably be lower than the current combined total, something that many Metall officials may oppose.
The two LO unions have lost around 100,000 members between them in recent years. When the merger is concluded, the new industrial workers' union will have about 470,000 members, making it the second largest union in LO. The largest is the Swedish Municipal Workers’ Union (Svenska Kommunalarbetareförbundet), with about 600,000 members.
In March 2004, the Swedish Graphic Workers’ Union (Grafiska Fackförbundet Mediafacket), with about 29,500 members, confirmed that it was working towards eventually joining the new industrial workers' union. In 1993, Metall merged with the Mining Workers’ Union (Gruvindustriarbetareförbundet).
Il-Eurofound jirrakkomanda li din il-pubblikazzjoni tiġi kkwotata kif ġej.
Eurofound (2004), Two LO-affiliated unions decide to merge, article.
