The ITF is welcoming the news that a strike by members of the Swedish Transport Workers’ Union (STWU) was called off after just 45 minutes yesterday following agreement with the Swedish Road Transport Employers Association (SRTEA) on a new contract for workers.
Industrial action, which started at noon on Wednesday 24 April (11.00 GMT), was taken after a breakdown in the latest round of labour market negotiations in the transport sector.
The new contract for port and road haulage workers has been agreed for three years and stipulates a three step wage increase.
ITF acting general secretary Stephen Cotton commented: “The wage increase is great, but more importantly than that, this new contract is also a big step forward in terms of the job security of STWU workers. It’s been agreed that when a transport company wants to take on staff for a job, although the union won’t be able to veto the use of agency workers, they will be automatically given the opportunity to negotiate and whilst those negotiations take place the agencies can’t be used.”
This marks significant progress in an area where for a long time there has been no movement whatsoever from transport companies. It is a major breakthrough for transport workers in Sweden.”
ENDS
The strike continues for refuse collectors and guards.
For more information contact ITF press officer, Sam Dawson.
Direct line: + 44 (0)20 7940 9260.
Email: dawson_sam@itf.org.uk
International Transport Workers' Federation - ITF:
HEAD OFFICE
ITF House, 49 - 60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DS
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7403 2733
Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7375 7871
Email: mail@itf.org.uk
Web: www.itfglobal.org
