A first look at the upcoming round of collective bargaining

Preparations for the collective bargaining round are underway. TechSverige's head of negotiations, Einar Humlin, gives an insight into what lies ahead, what priorities are in focus and how TechSverige is preparing for the upcoming negotiations.

Why is this round of negotiations particularly important for TechSweden?  

- Every round of collective bargaining has a huge impact on our member companies and Sweden as a whole. This time, I believe we are facing a crossroads that could affect the future of the entire Swedish model. Will the parties succeed in finding industry-specific solutions that both can feel satisfied with? If they succeed, we can create sustainable conditions and terms for Swedish companies for several years to come. The other alternative is that we end up in a more uncertain time where the Swedish model risks ceasing to function as a model for the Swedish labor market. On theAt TechSverige, we work responsibly and aim to achieve the first option, and hope that the social partners can avoid falling into the latter. 

How are you preparing for the upcoming negotiations?  

- We maintain a close dialogue with member companies, bargaining delegations and the Board, and conduct hundreds of member contacts on a regular basis. This gives us a well-anchored picture of the industry's needs. At TechSverige, we also have a tradition of good and close dialogue with trade union organizations and other stakeholders in the labor market, which contributes to constructive discussions and reduces the risk of conflict. 

 What role do our members play in the work you negotiators are facing? 

- Our members are at the heart of everything we do. We have the task of drawing up agreements for our members that directly affect their ability to operate and develop. Member companies are at the heart of our business and mean everything to us. 

Are there any specific dates and milestones that are important for our members to know? 

- The industry's negotiations also affect ours, because that is how the Swedish model is constructed. They start on December 19th, then we start our negotiations on January 14th. When the industry's agreements are ready on March 31, we will enter into final negotiations during the following two weeks - then it's really sharp mode.  

What are you most looking forward to in the upcoming round?  

- Together with the fantastic team of sharp negotiators and lawyers that we have now recruited within TechSverige, negotiate long-term sustainable agreements that I hope will provide good and sustainable conditions for our member companies and favor a strong tech industry in Sweden.