Swedish union wins new agreement for construction workers

After long and hard negotiations, Swedish trade union Byggnads and Byggföretagen, an employer organisation for construction companies, have agreed on a new collective agreement covering all workers in Sweden’s construction industry. Some of the salient features of the new agreement are: 

• Salary increase according to the "brand" of 7.4 percent, of which 0.2 in extra pension allowance, until the end of April 2025.

• Travel compensation secured: The compensation of SEK 25 a mile for everyone who has at least two kilometers to work is signed up in the agreement.

• Construction companies agree to set up the industry-wide control function dubbed as the "Swedish building control" to prevent labour abuses. 

• Higher pension allowance for everyone regardless of age. It increased by 0.1 percent every year. 

• Better working environment: All shower rooms for the staff will be provided by locks. The locked spaces should be in place no later than five years. Otherwise, the company may be forced to pay damages.

The Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) congratulates Byggnads for its outstanding victory on behalf of the Swedish construction workers. BWI hoped that the trade union’s new agreement will be a source of inspiration for other affiliates as they negotiate their agreements with their respective employers.