Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees
Encyclopedia
The Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees is a national trade union centre, the umbrella organisation
for eighteen trade union
s in Sweden
that organise professional
and other qualified employees within both the private and the public sector
s. The affiliated trade unions gather in total about 1.3 million employees.
This makes the organization the second biggest of Sweden's three major trade union confederations. The biggest, the Swedish Trade Union Confederation
(Landsorganisationen i Sverige or LO), mainly organize "blue collar" workers, and has links to the Swedish Social Democratic Party
. By contrast, the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees has no connections to any political party in Sweden.
The current president is Eva Nordmark, who took office in May 2011. She is a former president of the Swedish Union of Local Government Officers
("SKTF").
The Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees traces its origins back to the Confederation of Employees (De Anställdas Centralorganisation or DACO) founded in 1931. An organization for public sector employees called the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees was founded in 1937. The two organizations merged into one in 1944, taking the name of the latter. After World War II
membership in the affiliated unions rose rapidly, from 100 000 in 1944 to more than half a million in the mid sixties.
Swedish unions have traditionally had a high organisation rate. Today about 85% of "white collar" workers are members of a trade union, setting Sweden apart from most European countries, where "blue collar" workers have been the main target for unionization.
TCO Development, a company owned by TCO, maintains an international environmental labeling system, TCO Certification
. The label addresses safety issues such as "emissions
, ergonomics
, ecology
, and energy
" for computers, monitors and printers
, as well as cell phones and furniture
.
TCO claims that 50% of displays worldwide are labeled with the TCO label.
Umbrella organization
An umbrella organization is an association of institutions, who work together formally to coordinate activities or pool resources. In business, political, or other environments, one group, the umbrella organization, provides resources and often an identity to the smaller organizations...
for eighteen trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
that organise professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
and other qualified employees within both the private and the public sector
Public sector
The public sector, sometimes referred to as the state sector, is a part of the state that deals with either the production, delivery and allocation of goods and services by and for the government or its citizens, whether national, regional or local/municipal.Examples of public sector activity range...
s. The affiliated trade unions gather in total about 1.3 million employees.
This makes the organization the second biggest of Sweden's three major trade union confederations. The biggest, the Swedish Trade Union Confederation
Swedish Trade Union Confederation
The Swedish Trade Union Confederation , commonly referred to as LO, is a national trade union centre, an umbrella organisation for fifteen Swedish trade unions that organise mainly "blue-collar" workers...
(Landsorganisationen i Sverige or LO), mainly organize "blue collar" workers, and has links to the Swedish Social Democratic Party
Swedish Social Democratic Party
The Swedish Social Democratic Workers' Party, , contesting elections as 'the Workers' Party – the Social Democrats' , or sometimes referred to just as 'the Social Democrats' and most commonly as Sossarna ; is the oldest and largest political party in Sweden. The party was founded in 1889...
. By contrast, the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees has no connections to any political party in Sweden.
The current president is Eva Nordmark, who took office in May 2011. She is a former president of the Swedish Union of Local Government Officers
Swedish Union of Local Government Officers
The Swedish Union of Local Government Officers is a trade union in Sweden. It represents workers in municipalities, county councils and churches....
("SKTF").
The Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees traces its origins back to the Confederation of Employees (De Anställdas Centralorganisation or DACO) founded in 1931. An organization for public sector employees called the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees was founded in 1937. The two organizations merged into one in 1944, taking the name of the latter. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
membership in the affiliated unions rose rapidly, from 100 000 in 1944 to more than half a million in the mid sixties.
Swedish unions have traditionally had a high organisation rate. Today about 85% of "white collar" workers are members of a trade union, setting Sweden apart from most European countries, where "blue collar" workers have been the main target for unionization.
TCO Labeling
TCO Development, a company owned by TCO, maintains an international environmental labeling system, TCO Certification
TCO Certification
TCO Certification is a series of product certifications for office equipment . It is set by TCO Development, owned by the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees, TCO . The certifications are named after years...
. The label addresses safety issues such as "emissions
Electromagnetic radiation
Electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy that exhibits wave-like behavior as it travels through space...
, ergonomics
Ergonomics
Ergonomics is the study of designing equipment and devices that fit the human body, its movements, and its cognitive abilities.The International Ergonomics Association defines ergonomics as follows:...
, ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
, and energy
Energy
In physics, energy is an indirectly observed quantity. It is often understood as the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems...
" for computers, monitors and printers
Computer printer
In computing, a printer is a peripheral which produces a text or graphics of documents stored in electronic form, usually on physical print media such as paper or transparencies. Many printers are primarily used as local peripherals, and are attached by a printer cable or, in most new printers, a...
, as well as cell phones and furniture
Furniture
Furniture is the mass noun for the movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping in beds, to hold objects at a convenient height for work using horizontal surfaces above the ground, or to store things...
.
TCO claims that 50% of displays worldwide are labeled with the TCO label.
Affiliates
- Association of Forestal and Agricultural Employees (Skogs- och Lantbrukstjänstemannaförbundet)
- Association of Health ProfessionalsSwedish Association of Health ProfessionalsThe Swedish Association of Health Professionals is a trade union in Sweden. It consists of a membership of 112,000 and represents nurses, midwives, biomedical scientists and radiographers....
(Vårdförbundet) - Federation of Professional Musicians (Sveriges Yrkesmusikers Förbund or SYMF) SYMF (official site)
- TCO Development (TCO Development) TCO Development (official site)
- Teachers' UnionSwedish Teachers' UnionThe Swedish Teachers' Union is the largest teachers' trade union in Sweden. It has a membership of 209,000 and is affiliated with the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees, and Education International.-External links:* official site....
(Lärarförbundet) - Union for Theatre, Artists and Media (Teaterförbundet)
- Union of Chemist's Employees (Farmaciförbundet)
- Union of Civil ServantsSwedish Union of Civil ServantsThe Swedish Union of Civil Servants is a trade union in Sweden. With a membership of 97,000 it is the largest union of civil servants in the country.ST is affiliated with the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees....
(ST, formerly known as Statstjänstemannaförbundet) - Union of Civilian Employees in the Defence Forces (Försvarets Civila Tjänstemannaförbund)
- Union of Clerical and Technical Employees in IndustrySwedish Union of Clerical and Technical Employees in IndustryThe Swedish Union of Clerical and Technical Employees in Industry was the largest trade union for white-collar workers in Sweden. In 2008, it merged with HTF to form Unionen....
(Sif, formerly known as Svenska Industritjänstemannaförbundet) - Union of Commercial Salaried EmployeesSwedish Union of Commercial Salaried EmployeesThe Swedish Union of Commercial Salaried Employees is a trade union in Sweden. It has a membership of 160,000 and represents workers in a variety of industries, ranging from wholesaling, transport, freight forwarding, civil aviation and travel agencies to retailing, media companies and private...
(Tjänstemannaförbundet HTF) - Union of Customs and Coast Guard Officers (TULL-KUST)
- Financial Sector UnionFinancial Sector Union of SwedenThe Financial Sector Union of Sweden is a trade union in Sweden.Finansförbundet has a membership of 33,000 and represents workers in:* Banks* Financial institutions* credit brokers* Mortgage companies* Stock brokers...
(Finansförbundet) - Union of Insurance EmployeesSwedish Union of Insurance EmployeesThe Swedish Union of Insurance Employees is a trade union in Sweden. It has a membership of 13,000 and is affiliated with the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees....
(Försäkringstjänstemannaförbundet) - Union of JournalistsSwedish Union of JournalistsThe Swedish Union of Journalists is a trade union in Sweden. It is affiliated with the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees, and the International Federation of Journalists.-Membership:The SJF has a membership of more than 19 000 members:...
(Journalistförbundet) - Union of Local Government OfficersSwedish Union of Local Government OfficersThe Swedish Union of Local Government Officers is a trade union in Sweden. It represents workers in municipalities, county councils and churches....
(SKTF, formerly known as Sveriges Kommunaltjänstemannaförbund) - Union of People's High School Teachers (Svenska Folkhögskolans Lärarförbund)
- Union of Scientists and Researchers (Doktoranders och Forskares Förbund)
- Swedish Police UnionSwedish Police UnionThe Swedish Police Union is a trade union in Sweden. It has a membership of 18,500 , and is affiliated with the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees, and EuroCOP. It also maintains contact with the Swedish branch of the International Police Association.-External links:* official site....
(Polisförbundet)
See also
- Swedish Federation of Salaried Employees in Industry and Services (PTK)
- Swedish Public Employees' Negotiation Council (OFR)
- Swedish Confederation of Professional AssociationsSwedish Confederation of Professional AssociationsThe Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations is a confederation of 26 independent professional associations in Sweden. It gathers some 556,000 members, all of whom are academics or graduate professionals with a university or college degree. The members include economists, lawyers,...
(SACO)