Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Everywhere but in the Strike Statistics? : Wage Systems and Work Stoppages in Sweden, 1863-1927

Karlsson, Tobias LU (2023) p.163-181
Abstract
To what extent did employers' attempts to control work processes and increase work intensity by introducing new wage systems lead to labour conflicts in the decades around 1900? I adress this question by combining two approaches. Firstly, by reviewing newly digitized micro-level data on work stoppages in Sweden from 1863 to 1927. Secondly, by compiling case-study evidence on work processes and industrial relations on two industries in the same period: the tobacco industry and the shipbuilding industry. The quantitative approach shows that new wages systems were seldom mentioned in the strike statistics, but there are indications that workers' views on piece rates and bonus plans changed over time, from negative to positive. The case-study... (More)
To what extent did employers' attempts to control work processes and increase work intensity by introducing new wage systems lead to labour conflicts in the decades around 1900? I adress this question by combining two approaches. Firstly, by reviewing newly digitized micro-level data on work stoppages in Sweden from 1863 to 1927. Secondly, by compiling case-study evidence on work processes and industrial relations on two industries in the same period: the tobacco industry and the shipbuilding industry. The quantitative approach shows that new wages systems were seldom mentioned in the strike statistics, but there are indications that workers' views on piece rates and bonus plans changed over time, from negative to positive. The case-study evidence from the two industries suggests that both indutries experienced rationalisation measures, including new wage systems, around World War I. These changes were controversial, but disputes were solved through negotiations rather than through open conflicts. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
strikes, work stoppages, wage systems, Sweden, nineteenth century, twentieth century
host publication
The Value of Work since the 18th Century : Custom, Conflict, Measurement and Theory - Custom, Conflict, Measurement and Theory
editor
Asta, Massimo and Ramos Pinto, Pedro
pages
163 - 181
publisher
Bloomsbury Academic
external identifiers
  • scopus:85189796619
ISBN
978-1-3503-3207-2
978-1-3503-3208-6
978-1-3503-3209-9
project
Historisk arbetslivsforskning
From Sundsvall to Saltsjöbaden: A regional perspective on strikes at the Swedish labor market
HALF: Historisk arbetslivsforskning
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
41851e14-d07b-4412-907b-9ac98f0b24e0
date added to LUP
2023-10-06 08:35:13
date last changed
2024-04-23 13:51:40
@inbook{41851e14-d07b-4412-907b-9ac98f0b24e0,
  abstract     = {{To what extent did employers' attempts to control work processes and increase work intensity by introducing new wage systems lead to labour conflicts in the decades around 1900? I adress this question by combining two approaches. Firstly, by reviewing newly digitized micro-level data on work stoppages in Sweden from 1863 to 1927. Secondly, by compiling case-study evidence on work processes and industrial relations on two industries in the same period: the tobacco industry and the shipbuilding industry. The quantitative approach shows that new wages systems were seldom mentioned in the strike statistics, but there are indications that workers' views on piece rates and bonus plans changed over time, from negative to positive. The case-study evidence from the two industries suggests that both indutries experienced rationalisation measures, including new wage systems, around World War I. These changes were controversial, but disputes were solved through negotiations rather than through open conflicts.}},
  author       = {{Karlsson, Tobias}},
  booktitle    = {{The Value of Work since the 18th Century : Custom, Conflict, Measurement and Theory}},
  editor       = {{Asta, Massimo and Ramos Pinto, Pedro}},
  isbn         = {{978-1-3503-3207-2}},
  keywords     = {{strikes; work stoppages; wage systems; Sweden; nineteenth century; twentieth century}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{163--181}},
  publisher    = {{Bloomsbury Academic}},
  title        = {{Everywhere but in the Strike Statistics? : Wage Systems and Work Stoppages in Sweden, 1863-1927}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}