Taking inspiration from Nordic trade union solidarity: The CETUN study trip to the NFS and BASTUN

The 1970s were an important decade for transnational trade union cooperation in Europe. Not only was the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) founded in 1973, but a year prior, in 1972, Nordic trade unions came together to form a regional trade union platform: The Council of Nordic Trade Unions (NFS). Through its 15 affiliated national trade union federations from Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland, the NFS represents close to 9 million organised workers and provides a permanent forum for exchange and coordination between its member organisations.

The Nordic model

It is evident that the creation of the NFS was facilitated by a set of shared traditions and practices in national industrial relations, which all fall under the umbrella of the Nordic model despite punctual differences. It seemed therefore fitting to start the exchanges between CETUN and the NFS with an introduction to said Nordic model provided by German Bender, chief analyst at the progressive Swedish thinktank Arena Idé and a senior research associate at Harvard Law School’s Center for Labor and a Just Economy. He stressed how the development of the Nordic labour market model(s) – particularly from the 1930s onwards – contributed to the competitiveness and security of the highly export-oriented economies in the region. The Nordics provide clear evidence that the opposition between competitiveness and strong labour protection is flawed: A realisation that is and should further be taking a stronger foothold in the economic policy community. While a corresponding legal framework is essential, the Nordic model is marked by minimal state intervention in social dialogue and the centrality of sectoral collective bargaining. Some of the highest trade union and collective bargaining densities in the world prove that the system is working.

NFS & BASTUN

This set the scene for Magnus Gissler, Milla Järvelin and John Linde of the NFS to delve deeper into the functioning of regional trade union cooperation in the Nordics and the Baltic Sea area. Besides the Nordic model and the further strengthening of collective bargaining in the region, the cornerstones of the NFS’ work are sustainable, inclusive and fair labour markets, the protection of trade union rights and freedoms as well as the promotion of workers’ rights in Europe and globally. To this end, cooperation between NFS’ member organisations is not limited to regional questions but also encompasses the ETUC, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC). A particular point of interest for CETUN were the specifics of the organisational setup of the NFS, including its statues, its rotating presidency and decision-making bodies. Milla Järvelin then expanded on the Baltic Sea Trade Union Network (BASTUN), which bears organisational overlaps with the NFS, but is markedly less formalised. It encompasses a much more heterogenous set of participants with sometimes radically different starting positions when it comes to industrial relations at national level. The day was rounded off with a welcome from colleagues of the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees (TCO), who kindly co-hosted the meeting and the subsequent evening reception at the premises they share with the NFS.

The Tesla conflict

The morning after started with a deep dive into the ongoing stand-off between the Swedish trade unions and Tesla, which has received much attention throughout the year. Tony Hansen of IF Metall, the Swedish industrial and metalworkers’ union that is in the front row of the conflict with the American company, gave an incisive account of the current situation and what is at stake. With Tesla categorically refusing to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement despite significant unionisation of it workshops, trade unions have no other choice but to take strike action and defend the fundamentals of the Nordic model. The solidarity actions taken by trade unions from Norway, Denmark and Finland provide for particularly striking and inspiring examples of regional cross-border cooperation and coordination.

OPC' support for trade unions

Oscar Ernerot and Karl Bergkvist from the Olof Palme International Center (OPC) thereafter expanded on the manifold ways their organisation is supporting trade unions and civil society initiatives advancing workers’ and human rights, democracy, social justice, peace and sustainability in the Western Balkans. For many trade unions in the region the support received from the OPC in terms of capacity building is crucial in assuring effective social dialogue is established and maintained.

Taking inspiration

Thanks to all the speakers and the welcome received from the NFS, the Stockholm trip set CETUN participants up for fruitful reflections on the future of the network and the possibilities for stronger cross-border cooperation and coordination. While these reflections are now initiated, they are far from concluded and the examples of both the NFS and BASTUN will be crucial references in the future development of CETUN.