Swedish Union of Clerical and Technical Employees in Industry
Encyclopedia
The Swedish Union of Clerical and Technical Employees in Industry (Sif, formerly Svenska Industritjänstemannaförbundet) was the largest trade union
for white-collar workers in Sweden
. In 2008, it merged with HTF
to form Unionen
.
Founded in 1920, it stated its primary goal as being "to guarantee a good working life for its members". A main priority was taking part in the collective bargaining
process. Workplace health and safety issues, competence and career issues were other major concerns. The organization also played an active part lobbying politicians in the interest of its members.
The 350 000 members worked in the private sector, in companies that operated in areas including IT, telecom, construction, manufacturing and research and development. A small number was self-employed. Membership was also open to students. Around 40 percent of the members were women, as was the current President, Mari-Ann Krantz who after the fusion with HTF
became the first President of Unionen
.
The organization was not only one of the largest labour unions in Sweden, it was also one of the wealthiest. It had funds worth several hundred million dollars, allowing the union to set aside substantial money for large ad campaigns with the object of recruiting new members.
The organization had in the end of its existence 20 Regional Divisions with 23 local offices around Sweden and approximately 2.500 local union branches in the workplaces. About half the members did not belong to a local branch but could turn to a workplace representative acting as a point of contact and a channel for information.
The highest decision-making body was the Congress, held every four years. It consisted of 180 elected representatives from the workplaces. The Congress elected the 11 representatives of the Sif Executive.
The Swedish Union of Clerical and Technical Employees in Industry maintained independence from party politics. The organization was an affiliate of the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees
. It was also a member of several international industrial federations, such as Union Network International
, a federation of unions in the IT, telecom, media & entertainment and graphics sector.
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...
for white-collar workers 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....
. In 2008, it merged with HTF
HTF
HTF may mean:* Happy Tree Friends* Tjänstemannaförbundet, the Swedish Union of Commercial Salaried Employees* Virtual Hypertext Font - TeX Format* Hydrographic Transfer Format - HTF Format* Hard to Find...
to form Unionen
Unionen
Unionen is a Swedish white-collar trade union, formed by HTF and Sif on 1 January 2008. Unionen is the second biggest trade union in Sweden and the biggest white-collar union in the world....
.
Founded in 1920, it stated its primary goal as being "to guarantee a good working life for its members". A main priority was taking part in the collective bargaining
Collective bargaining
Collective bargaining is a process of negotiations between employers and the representatives of a unit of employees aimed at reaching agreements that regulate working conditions...
process. Workplace health and safety issues, competence and career issues were other major concerns. The organization also played an active part lobbying politicians in the interest of its members.
The 350 000 members worked in the private sector, in companies that operated in areas including IT, telecom, construction, manufacturing and research and development. A small number was self-employed. Membership was also open to students. Around 40 percent of the members were women, as was the current President, Mari-Ann Krantz who after the fusion with HTF
HTF
HTF may mean:* Happy Tree Friends* Tjänstemannaförbundet, the Swedish Union of Commercial Salaried Employees* Virtual Hypertext Font - TeX Format* Hydrographic Transfer Format - HTF Format* Hard to Find...
became the first President of Unionen
Unionen
Unionen is a Swedish white-collar trade union, formed by HTF and Sif on 1 January 2008. Unionen is the second biggest trade union in Sweden and the biggest white-collar union in the world....
.
The organization was not only one of the largest labour unions in Sweden, it was also one of the wealthiest. It had funds worth several hundred million dollars, allowing the union to set aside substantial money for large ad campaigns with the object of recruiting new members.
The organization had in the end of its existence 20 Regional Divisions with 23 local offices around Sweden and approximately 2.500 local union branches in the workplaces. About half the members did not belong to a local branch but could turn to a workplace representative acting as a point of contact and a channel for information.
The highest decision-making body was the Congress, held every four years. It consisted of 180 elected representatives from the workplaces. The Congress elected the 11 representatives of the Sif Executive.
The Swedish Union of Clerical and Technical Employees in Industry maintained independence from party politics. The organization was an affiliate of the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees
Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees
The Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees is a national trade union centre, the umbrella organisation for eighteen trade unions in Sweden that organise professional and other qualified employees within both the private and the public sectors...
. It was also a member of several international industrial federations, such as Union Network International
Union Network International
UNI Global Union is a global union federation for skills and services, gathering national and regional trade unions. It was launched on January 1, 2000. Its more than 900 affiliated unions in 140 countries have 20 million members...
, a federation of unions in the IT, telecom, media & entertainment and graphics sector.