Union Density in Norway and Sweden: Stability versus Decline
(2022) In Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies 12(58). p.51-72- Abstract
- The aim is to explain why union density is not only considerably higher in the Ghent country Sweden than in non-Ghent Norway but also why it has declined much more in Sweden, in particular among blue-collar workers. We show how changes to Swedish unemployment insurance in 2007–2013 were followed by a decline in union density and how white-collar unions were more successful than blue-collar unions in developing supplementary income insurance schemes that counteracted membership losses. This type of institutional explanation is nevertheless insufficient. In Norway, too, blue-collar density has decreased while white-collar workers have maintained their density rate. Norwegian data further show that even without unemployment insurance funds,... (More)
- The aim is to explain why union density is not only considerably higher in the Ghent country Sweden than in non-Ghent Norway but also why it has declined much more in Sweden, in particular among blue-collar workers. We show how changes to Swedish unemployment insurance in 2007–2013 were followed by a decline in union density and how white-collar unions were more successful than blue-collar unions in developing supplementary income insurance schemes that counteracted membership losses. This type of institutional explanation is nevertheless insufficient. In Norway, too, blue-collar density has decreased while white-collar workers have maintained their density rate. Norwegian data further show that even without unemployment insurance funds, it is possible to achieve a fairly high union density at workplaces with collective agreements. However, without unemployment benefits like we find in Sweden, it is increasingly challenging to establish an institutional foundation for a social custom of unionization. (Less)
- Abstract (Swedish)
- The aim is to explain why union density is not only considerably higher in the Ghent country
Sweden than in non-Ghent Norway but also why it has declined much more in Sweden, in par-
ticular among blue-collar workers. We show how changes to Swedish unemployment insurance in
2007–2013 were followed by a decline in union density and how white-collar unions were more
successful than blue-collar unions in developing supplementary income insurance schemes that
counteracted membership losses. This type of institutional explanation is nevertheless insufficient.
In Norway, too, blue-collar density has decreased while white-collar workers have maintained their
density rate. Norwegian data further show that even... (More) - The aim is to explain why union density is not only considerably higher in the Ghent country
Sweden than in non-Ghent Norway but also why it has declined much more in Sweden, in par-
ticular among blue-collar workers. We show how changes to Swedish unemployment insurance in
2007–2013 were followed by a decline in union density and how white-collar unions were more
successful than blue-collar unions in developing supplementary income insurance schemes that
counteracted membership losses. This type of institutional explanation is nevertheless insufficient.
In Norway, too, blue-collar density has decreased while white-collar workers have maintained their
density rate. Norwegian data further show that even without unemployment insurance funds, it is
possible to achieve a fairly high union density at workplaces with collective agreements. However,
without unemployment benefits like we find in Sweden, it is increasingly challenging to establish an
institutional foundation for a social custom of unionization. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/e0c8b775-aa0b-40f1-9dfe-48fbde0c1d1d
- author
- Kjellberg, Anders LU and Nergaard, Kristine
- organization
- publishing date
- 2022-02-23
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- union density, trade union, Norway, Sweden, Ghent system, income insurance, unemployment fund, a-kassa, fackförening, blue-collar worker, white-collar worker, Nordic model, Swedish model, industrial relations, foreign-born, domestic-born, LO, TCO, Saco, Unionen, If Metall, Sociology, Fafo, union density, Norway, Sweden, trade union, unemployment insurance, a-kassa, income insurance, blue-collar worker, white-collar worker, Nordic model, Swedish model, Ghent system, foreign-born, domestic-born, LO, TCO, Saco, Unionen, IF Metall, unionization, Fafo, Sociology, industrial relations, Ghent effect, collective agreement, collective bargaining, employers' association
- in
- Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies
- volume
- 12
- issue
- 58
- pages
- 22 pages
- publisher
- Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85125546914
- ISSN
- 2245-0157
- DOI
- 10.18291/njwls.131697
- project
- Collective Bargaining in Europe
- Trade Unions in Europe (27 EU countries)
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- e0c8b775-aa0b-40f1-9dfe-48fbde0c1d1d
- date added to LUP
- 2022-02-16 13:59:23
- date last changed
- 2024-06-04 03:04:16
@article{e0c8b775-aa0b-40f1-9dfe-48fbde0c1d1d,
abstract = {{The aim is to explain why union density is not only considerably higher in the Ghent country Sweden than in non-Ghent Norway but also why it has declined much more in Sweden, in particular among blue-collar workers. We show how changes to Swedish unemployment insurance in 2007–2013 were followed by a decline in union density and how white-collar unions were more successful than blue-collar unions in developing supplementary income insurance schemes that counteracted membership losses. This type of institutional explanation is nevertheless insufficient. In Norway, too, blue-collar density has decreased while white-collar workers have maintained their density rate. Norwegian data further show that even without unemployment insurance funds, it is possible to achieve a fairly high union density at workplaces with collective agreements. However, without unemployment benefits like we find in Sweden, it is increasingly challenging to establish an institutional foundation for a social custom of unionization.}},
author = {{Kjellberg, Anders and Nergaard, Kristine}},
issn = {{2245-0157}},
keywords = {{union density; trade union; Norway; Sweden; Ghent system; income insurance; unemployment fund; a-kassa; fackförening; blue-collar worker; white-collar worker; Nordic model; Swedish model; industrial relations; foreign-born; domestic-born; LO; TCO; Saco; Unionen; If Metall; Sociology; Fafo; union density; Norway; Sweden; trade union; unemployment insurance; a-kassa; income insurance; blue-collar worker; white-collar worker; Nordic model; Swedish model; Ghent system; foreign-born; domestic-born; LO; TCO; Saco; Unionen; IF Metall; unionization; Fafo; Sociology; industrial relations; Ghent effect; collective agreement; collective bargaining; employers' association}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{02}},
number = {{58}},
pages = {{51--72}},
publisher = {{Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies}},
series = {{Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies}},
title = {{Union Density in Norway and Sweden: Stability versus Decline}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/114477394/Union_Density_Sweden_Norway_Kjellberg_Nergaard.pdf}},
doi = {{10.18291/njwls.131697}},
volume = {{12}},
year = {{2022}},
}