Trade Union Activism in the Nordic Countries since 1900

Description

Providing a Nordic historical perspective, this collection aims to further our understanding of trade union activism and its role in modern society. Contributions from a range of leading scholars analyse the organisational conditions of mobilisation that were deployed by Nordic unionists, and explore the way that they interacted with other forms of social and political protest during the twentieth century. Covering illegal or so-called wildcat strikes, blockades, demonstrations and other activist measures, the authors examine the way that trade union activism in the Nordic countries aimed to move the political combat zone from the meeting rooms of the respective confederations into the streets and the public domain. The collection focuses on cases from Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland, but comparisons are also made with countries such as Iceland, Germany, and the USA. Exploring the ways in which political parties have intervened in Nordic trade union activism since the early twentieth century, this unique collection offers new insights for those interested in labour market dynamics and the complex process behind the formation of salary and employment conditions. Preface Contents Notes on Contributors List of Figures List of Tables 1 Trade Union Activism in the Nordic Countries: Introduction Trade Union Activism in the Nordic Countries: Old and New Perspectives The Structure of the Book References 2 Labor Market Struggles and Labor Market Relations in the Nordic Countries, 1848–2020: Trends and Fluctuations From Hunger Riots to Strikes and Lockouts The Great Test of Strength, 1900–1920 The Consolidation of the Trade Union Movement, 1920–1939 War, Occupation, and Opposition, 1940–1945 From Neo-Corporatism and Industrial Peace to Renewed Industrial Activity, 1946–1985 Changing Classes and Labor Market Structures Since 1985 References Part I National and Local Trade Union Activism, 1900–1939 3 The Norwegian Experience: Trade Union Opposition and Local Activism, 1900–1939 Trade Union Centralism The Trade Union Opposition Hard Times and Increased Activism A Revolutionary Alternative Activism and Communism The Final Showdown Postscript: The Norwegian Model References 4 Syndicalism and Strikes in Denmark, 1917–1920: The Syndicalist Challenge to Social Democratic Trade Union Leadership Historiography Syndicalism, Social Democracy, Trade Unions, and Strikes in Denmark Strikes in Denmark 1917–1920 The Eight-Hour Campaign and “Syndicalist Strikes” 1919–1920 Conclusion References 5 Trade Unions, the Social Democratic Party and Labor Market Conflicts in Malmö, 1890–1910 The State of the Labor Movement in Malmö Around 1890 The Woodworker’s Strike in 1890 The Battle The Result of the Strike Development After 1890 Municipal Workers on Strike, 1908 Meetings and Activities Among the Strikers in 1908 Eviction of Workers and Their Families Conclusion References 6 Anti-Strikebreaker Protests and Collective Violence in Sweden, 1918–1939 Aims and Methods Anti-Strikebreaker Violence in Context 26 Strikes Threats and Physical Intimidations ‘Following the Strikebreakers Home’ Expulsions Abductions and Forced Marches Mock Trials Bombings A Repertoire of Anti-Strikebreaker Collective Violence References Part II National and Local Trade Union Activism, 1940–2020 7 Social Movement Unionism in Denmark, 1940–1985 Occupation, Collaboration and General Strikes, 1943–1946 Industrial Conflict and Industrial Relations, 1947–1967 Industrial and Social Upheaval 1968–1985 Industrial Conflict and Forms of Organization Public Employees Between Mass Organizations and Action Networks Three Waves of Social Movement Unionism in Denmark References 8 Mass Labor Protest and Trade Union Activism in Early Post-War Copenhagen The July 4 Demonstration The Typographical Conflict of 1947 Concluding Discussion References 9 Reluctant Vanguard? Finnish Building Workers’ Unions and Strikes, 1949–1973 Bitter Experience Reluctant Vanguard of the Working Class Strategically Targeted Strikes Instead of Political Education of Workers by Mass Strike Experience Incomes Policy, the Construction Workers’ Union, and the Hard-core Minority of SKP Conclusions References 10 The Peak Strike Period in Finland, 1970–1980: Wildcat Strikes and Income Politics Unstable Industrial Relations After the Second World War Strength of Workers and Unions Peaks of Industrial Conflict, 1970–1980 Wildcat Strikes as Part of Local Bargaining Conclusion References 11 From Street Fighting years to Seizing the Agenda. Labor Militancy Challenging the Establishment in Norway, 1976–2010 Street Fighting Years Social Democratic Labour Reforms A Regional Industrial Shift Ideological Disarray Unemployment and Closing Bell 1986: Industrial Capital and a Moment of Hubris Fixing an Alternative Agenda: The Rise of the Trondheim Conference The Unions and the European Single Market The Challengers: A Conclusive Remark References 12 Reaching Out. Oslo Construction Workers and Migrant Workers, 2004–2014 Types of Unionism, Phases of Mobilization Social Unionism—Foothold and Breakthrough Stabilization—The Tricky Third Phase Political Unionism—Collaborating with the State Authorities Business Unionism—Collaborating with Factions of Capital Challenges to Unionization: Nationality or Instability and Unpredictability? What’s at Stake? References 13 Trade Unions’ Protest Cycles in Sweden, 1980–2020 Theoretical Framework and Description of the Data Changes in the Swedish Industrial Relations Regime and the Decline of Strikes Examining Displacement: Have Other Protest Activities Replaced Strikes? Have Protest Events Shifted Focus Toward Wage Claims? Conclusions References Part III Comparative Perspective 14 Lockouts in Scandinavia, c. 1900–1938 Material and Methods Scandinavian Lockout Statistics A Quantitative Comparison: Scandinavia vs The Netherlands The Scandinavian Sympathy Lockout Danish Employers Lead the Way Union Recognition. Swedish Employers Follow Suit The Preferred Choice: A Social Democratic, Centralized Opponent Recession Lockouts The Lockout as a Collective Action Problem Scandinavian Lockouts Versus American Strikebreaking Conclusion Appendix: Norwegian Conflict Statistics References 15 Wildcat Strikes Between 1960 and 1973: A German-Danish Comparison Labor Struggles Before 1968 Denmark: Wildcat Strikes During the Economic Boom Germany: Cold War and “Localization” Labor Unrest Around 1968 Wildcat Strikes and New Trade Union Policy in Denmark From the Septemberstreiks to the Crisis Summary References 16 Developing Public Sector Trade Unionism in Scandinavia: From Noble Civil Servants to Militant Wage Earners Developing the Frameworks for Collective Bargaining—The Private Sector Beginning Reforming the Civil Servant Systems—The First Steps Toward Public Sector Unionism Copying the Collective Bargaining Model Public Sector Trade Union Activism Today Concluding Remarks—From Noble Civil Servants to Militant Wage Earners References 17 Closing the Gender Pay Gap: Global Concepts, Local Negotiations in Iceland and Sweden, 1900–1985 Local Struggles, National Governments, and International Organizations Periodization of International Political Opportunity Structures c. 1870–1980s International Mobilization Structures Reaching Globally Between the Shopfloor and the International Arena—Sweden and Iceland, 1900–1940 1940s–1965: New Political Opportunities and Internalization The Synergy of Icelandic and International Opportunity Structures International Opportunity Structures Challenge the Swedish Model of Labor Relations 1966–1985 Global Framing in Iceland and Sweden Concluding Remarks References Index