Chaos in the national association of Tornedalingar - management dismissed: "A dagger in the back"

It was chairman Kerstin Salomonsson, vice chairman Börje Rytiniemi and treasurer Tapio Kostet who were elected after a turbulent digital annual congress, despite the fact that they continued to be trusted by the nomination committee.

"Like a dagger in the back"

According to the old board, this is a wage debate that has derailed and led to democracy being put out of play.

According to the new board, which is headed by Eva Kvist, it is a matter of the dismissed management not taking their employer responsibility and that three people, half of the employees, have resigned.

- It was a very strange annual meeting that I experienced as coup-like, farcical and chaotic.

They had mobilized entire families who sat and voted, says Kerstin Salomonsson and continues:

Roughly speaking, there were 33 votes for the new board and 22 votes for us and almost a total split of STR: T.

It felt like a dagger in my back.

I have now resigned as a member and so has my daughter.

Anxiety and division

The internal unrest and division in STR: T can affect the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission because the union is one of the most important actors in the work, but none of those who have acted want to admit it publicly.

- I hope that the work continues, for the sake of our questions.

I think what happened is deplorable and if it were not so serious I would say that it is both comical and laughable.

You have to crush your opponents at all costs, says Kerstin Salomonsson.

Hope to persuade those who resigned

Former chairman Bengt Niska resigned his seat on the board before the annual meeting.

- It certainly takes time before everything is normalized after this turbulent time.

There is dissatisfaction and if it is not remedied in time, it can have consequences like this, he says.

The new chairman Eva Kvist hopes to be able to persuade the three employees who resigned to return.

- It is clear that there are disagreements and conflicts, as in other associations, but the sad thing in this case is that it has been going on for a long time and that the top management has broken down.

I understand that those who were not re-elected are disappointed, but we must strive for openness, cooperation and communication, says Eva Kvist.