The total membership of the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (Landsorganisationen, LO) stood at 2,169,300 in 1998, down almost 36,000 members, or 1.7%, compared with 1997. The Building Maintenance Workers' Union (Fastighetsanställdas förbund, Fastighets) was the only one of LO's 19 affiliated trade unions to record an increase of membership - a rise of 1,257 members compared with 1997, as a result of a heavy recruitment campaign. LO stated that the decrease could be explained in terms of structural changes in industry, the building sector and the public sector. Despite its losses, LO pointed out in an official statement that the overall unionisation rate had increased from 81% to 84% during the 1990s,
The Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO) lost almost 36,000 members in 1998. By contrast, the Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations (SACO) gained 35,000 new members, of whom 20,000 were military officers formerly affiliated to the Confederation of Salaried Employees (TCO), whose membership remained stable.
The total membership of the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (Landsorganisationen, LO) stood at 2,169,300 in 1998, down almost 36,000 members, or 1.7%, compared with 1997. The Building Maintenance Workers' Union (Fastighetsanställdas förbund, Fastighets) was the only one of LO's 19 affiliated trade unions to record an increase of membership - a rise of 1,257 members compared with 1997, as a result of a heavy recruitment campaign. LO stated that the decrease could be explained in terms of structural changes in industry, the building sector and the public sector. Despite its losses, LO pointed out in an official statement that the overall unionisation rate had increased from 81% to 84% during the 1990s,
The Confederation of Salaried Employees (Tjänstemännens Centralorganisation,TCO) had a total membership of 1,233,488 in 1998, recording a very small increase of 0.1% over 1997. Membership increased in eight of the 18 affiliated trade unions, with the Teachers' Union (Lärarförbundet) registering 4,264 more members than in 1997 and the Union for Technical and Clerical Employees in Industry (Svenska Industritjänstemannaförbundet, SIF) 3,149 more members. TCO lost most members in the finance sector, where many jobs disappeared in banking and insurance due to structural changes.
The total membership of the Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations (Sveriges Akademikers Centralorganisation, SACO) stood at 662,000 in 1998, an increase of 35,000, or 8%, over the previous year. While about 15,000 were "fresh" members, a large part of the increase, 20,000 members, can be accounted for by the fact that the Swedish Association of Military Officers (Officersförbundet, OFF) left the white-collar workers' confederation, TCO, to join SACO.
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (1999), LO unions lose members, article.
