The shifting role of European unions in the social dialogue: Sweden in a comparative context

Industrial relations vary between European countries. For member countries of
the European union, the role of European legislation, labour law and other policy measures play a central and co-ordinating role. The current policy development from the European Commission on minimum wages illustrates the tensions between on one hand the Nordic model with collective agreements and a stronger role from social partners and on the other the EU regulation giving a stronger position to European institutions as the European Commission and the European Parliament. This chapter reflects over the Swedish labour market model in a European context by looking at variations in union density, role of social partners and power relations in working life in a more general context.