Sweden’s major metalworking union says Volvo’s news yesterday (16 October) it would add a third shift at its Torslanda plant was a direct result of collaborative work with organised labour.
Speaking to just-auto at the Scandinavian suppliers (FKG) annual suppliers Forum in Gothenburg shortly after announcing the extra shift that will generate at least 1,300 direct new jobs, Volvo CEO, Hakan Samuelsson, said the automaker had conducted lengthy negotiations with its unions, a view echoed by IF Metall chairman, Anders Ferbe.
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“1,300 new jobs in in Volvo – brilliant,” said Ferbe at the conference. “That would not have been possible if you had not founded that employment in our new working hours agreement.
“This flexibility agreement – we know it is necessary to be able to keep up with competitiveness. Now this is possible to take a step forward.”
Ferbe broadened his address to bang the drum for the trade union movement as a whole, insisting organised labour was Swedish industry’s “best friend, perhaps your only friend,” in front of nearly 500 delegates at the FKG event in Volvo’s home town.
“Some of you are good at this [industrial relations], some of you don’t see trade union representatives on company boards as the enemy, but rather friends in the long run.
“It does not matter how many machines you buy or production flows you invent – there is always someone there who has to do the job. Consider your union representatives – some of the 5,000 we have in our association – pat them on the shoulder – they need to feel they do a brilliant job and in my opinion they do.”
Ferbe lauded the strength of Swedish industry, responsible for around 1m jobs in his estimation and hailing the automotive segment as the “backbone” of the manufacturing sector.
Sweden has a new Social Democratic government of just a few weeks old and whose Prime Minister, Stefan Lofven, is ironically, himself a former chairman of IF Metall, a situation delegates hoped would lead to a sympathetic ear for industry.
That happy coincidence, coupled with the fact Ferbe is also a member of the ruling party’s board, propelled a certain optimism at the conference that industry would be treated as a priority.
“Our target is to get new industrialisation,” said Ferbe. “It is about how to develop new companies and strengthen the industrial base in Sweden.
“I have the benefit of being on the Social Democratic party board and perhaps I have certain influence.”
