ILPC 2026

 The Swedish blue-collar trade unions, while still comparatively strong, are faced with substantial challenges visible in a shrinking group of blue-collar workers, decreasing rates of unionization and increasing internal fragmentation in which gender, racialization and age is increasingly linked to variations in working conditions. Parallel to this the power asymmetry of capital vis-a-vi workers and white-collar vis-a-vi blue-collar workers is growing. These developments are taking place as the economy is increasingly internationalized/regionalized, increasing migration and at the same time a resurgence of nationalism, xenophobia and racism with strong support among (male) blue-collar workers.

The aim of this paper is to analyse how the Swedish blue-collar confederation, LO and their member trade unions navigate in a context of challenges everywhere. In focus is the dilemma of both dealing with a context of economic transformations and policy changes, weakening the collective strength of organized, particularly blue-collar, labour, and at the same time dealing with a bifurcation both structurally and ideologically linked to the racialised character of blue-collar workers. The paper explores the strategies of the TUC (LO), and four of its unions – industrial workers (IF Metall); municipal workers (Kommunal); construction workers (Byggnads) and hotel and restaurant workers (HRF) – in dealing with changes in economic policies, an increasing strength and offensive of employers and an increasing internal bifurcation of blue-collar workers. At the core is the question of how the organisation of production in different sectors links to processes of imagining solidarities in a context in which the members are increasingly supporting the cultural racist Sweden Democratic party and with an increasing share of foreign born members.

The theoretical framework is drawn from labour studies and industrial relations research along with migration and ethnic studies. The focus is on theorizing the concept of trade union solidarity. Methodologically, the project is a qualitative study with representatives of LO, IF Metall, Kommunal, Byggnads and HRF, employing semi structured interviews, complemented with analysis of statements and policy documents.