The mediators, the so-called Non-Partisan Chairmen (Opo), have made a first sharp wage offer in the so important industrial negotiations, agreements that, when finally signed, usually become a wage mark for the entire labor market.
The draft agreement is for two years and provides for salary increases totaling 6.5 percent, of which 3.7 percent in the first year and 2.8 percent in the second year. In addition, the minimum wages in the agreement are increased by SEK 1,300, something that is taken from the total space of 6.5 percent.
The employer side says yes
"But it's at the pain threshold of what competitiveness can handle," says Per Widolf, head of negotiations at Industriarbetsgivarna.
But the five industrial unions, IF Metall, the GS union, Livs, Unionen and the Swedish Association of Graduate Engineers jointly say no.
"We cannot accept this offer and there must be major changes for us to be able to sign an agreement. Wage increases must be substantially higher and the minimum wages of the agreements must be raised more," union president Martin Linder said in an initial written statement.
In their original demand, the unions have demanded 4.4 percent in a one-year agreement.
The fact that the unions say no to the mediators' first bid is something that belongs to the usual order. Now Opo has a week to come back with a final bid before the old agreement expires March 31, probably a sugared one from the union's perspective. That's what historically it usually looks like.
"As we enter the final week of tough negotiations, there is full focus on higher wage increases, increased minimum wages," linder says.