Facket & Kollektivavtal Expressions

the union

Tip: lit. 'the trade' — the colloquial word for your union.

to join the union

Tip: lit. 'go with into the union'.

a collective agreement

Tip: lit. the same — it covers most Swedish workplaces.

the Swedish model

Tip: lit. the same — unions and employers negotiate, not parliament.

the social partners

Tip: lit. 'the parties on the labour market'.

the wage round

Tip: lit. 'the agreement movement' — the national bargaining season.

a union representative

Tip: lit. 'a union delegate'.

a health and safety representative

Tip: lit. 'a protection delegate' — a legally protected role.

a local branch

Tip: lit. 'a club' — your workplace union chapter.

to negotiate

Tip: lit. the same.

to call a strike

Tip: lit. 'proclaim strike' — rare, but it happens.

a lockout

Tip: lit. the same — the employers' equivalent.

a blockade

Tip: lit. the same — a sympathy action against a company.

industrial peace obligation

Tip: lit. 'peace duty' — no strikes while an agreement runs.

to issue redundancy notices

Tip: lit. 'warn about dismissals'.

the employment protection act

Tip: lit. 'lagen om anställningsskydd' — everyone uses the acronym.

objective grounds for dismissal

Tip: lit. 'objective reasons' — you can't just be fired.

a warning

Tip: lit. 'a reminder' — the formal written warning.

the works council meeting

Tip: lit. 'the collaboration meeting'.

the right of co-determination

Tip: lit. 'co-determination right' — MBL.

occupational pension

Tip: lit. 'service pension' — a key benefit from the agreement.

holiday pay supplement

Tip: lit. 'holiday compensation'.

the union unemployment fund

Tip: lit. 'the A-fund' — separate from the union itself.

to stand up for your rights

Tip: lit. the same.

united we stand

Tip: lit. 'together we are strong' — the classic union line.

to go through the union first

Tip: lit. 'go via the union' — the standard advice before acting alone.

it's covered by the agreement

Tip: lit. 'it is regulated in the agreement'.

the union fee

Tip: lit. the same — a few hundred kronor a month.

tax-deductible in part

Tip: lit. the same.

to be covered without being a member

Tip: lit. the same — the agreement covers the workplace, not just members.

but you get no legal help

Tip: lit. the same — the real reason to join.

legal representation in a dispute

Tip: lit. the same.

an income insurance

Tip: lit. the same — tops up a-kassa.

a strike fund

Tip: lit. the same.

a mediator

Tip: lit. the same — the state appoints them.

the national mediation office

Tip: lit. the same.

the benchmark agreement

Tip: lit. 'the mark' — the industrial sector sets the pay norm for all.

a wage increase of two point six percent

Tip: lit. the same — note the Swedish decimal comma.

an individual pay setting

Tip: lit. the same — most agreements now.

a wage pot

Tip: lit. 'a salary pot' — divided among the staff.

a workplace meeting

Tip: lit. the same, usually shortened to APT.

a health and safety round

Tip: lit. 'a protection round' — a walk-through inspection.

to stop dangerous work

Tip: lit. the same — the safety rep has this legal power.

to report an occupational injury

Tip: lit. the same.

victimisation at work

Tip: lit. 'offensive differential treatment' — the legal term.

an employer must investigate

Tip: lit. the same.

nobody should face it alone

Tip: lit. 'nobody should stand alone'.