How We Negotiate Collective Agreements
During the 2025 bargaining round, the unions within Almega will negotiate 125 collective agreements – more than any other employer organization. The process of reaching a finalized agreement takes place in several steps and begins with negotiations. In this article, you can learn more about how it works.
Collective agreements expire on different dates, and negotiations begin with the bargaining delegations meeting and exchanging their demands. These initial demands form the basis of the negotiations. The first phase of negotiations typically focuses on clarifying what the other party means by their proposals and analysing the potential consequences and costs of these proposals.
As negotiations near their conclusion, discussions often become more intense. The parties identify the issues they agree on and those that require further discussion. Once an agreement is reached, the new contract takes effect, and both parties inform their respective members about its contents.
If the parties are unable to reach an agreement and remain too far apart for negotiations to continue, either side may issue a notice of industrial action. There are no specific rules on what types of industrial action are allowed in a labour dispute. Common union-led actions include strikes, overtime bans, and hiring freezes (blocking new employment and temporary staffing). Employers, in turn, may impose a lockout, preventing employees from working.
A notice of industrial action must be given at least seven days in advance to the opposing party and to The Swedish National Mediation Office (Medlingsinstitutet). Mediation is mandatory before any potential conflict breaks out. Industrial action can be directed at individual companies or entire industries, and sympathy actions are permitted.
During a conflict, Almega provides companies with information, discusses measures to minimize the impact of the dispute, and offers practical solutions. Our advisors maintain continuous contact with affected member companies, offering guidance on various issues. Once the parties reach an agreement, employees immediately return to work, and a period of labour peace (fredsplikt) resumes.