The Swedish Metalworkers' Union ( sv, Svenska Metallindustriarbetareförbundet often shortened in text and speech to simply ''Metall'') was a

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits (s ...

in Sweden.

History

The union was founded in Stockholm on 21 May 1888, and had 555 members by the end of the year. Although the

Swedish Foundry Workers' Union The Swedish Foundry Workers' Union ( sv, Svenska Gjutareförbundet, Gjutare) was a trade union representing workers in foundries in Sweden. The union was established in 1893, as a split from the Swedish Metalworkers' Union The Swedish Metalwor ...

and the Swedish Sheet Metal Workers' Union both split away in 1893, the union grew rapidly. From 1895, it was able to support a full-time president, while in 1897 it set up an unemployment fund. The union affiliated to the Swedish Trade Union Confederation in 1904, and although the

Swedish Electricians' Union The Swedish Electricians' Union ( sv, Svenska Elektrikerförbundet, SEF) is a trade union representing electricians in Sweden. The union was founded in Stockholm in 1906, as a split from the Swedish Metalworkers' Union The Swedish Metalwork ...

split away in 1906, by 1908, it had 33,826 members. Membership continued to grow steadily, with the foundry workers rejoining in 1962, and in 1975 it reached an all-time peak of 409,412. Since then, it gradually declined, despite the affiliation of the

Swedish Miners' Union The Swedish Miners' Union ( sv, Svenska Gruvindustriarbetareförbundet, Gruv) was a trade union representing workers in the mining industry in Sweden. The union was founded at a meeting in Grängesberg on 12 October 1895. It initially had 600 m ...

in 1994, and by 2005 it stood at 276,068. In January 2006, it merged with the Swedish Industrial Union to form

IF Metall Industrifacket Metall (IF Metall) is a trade union in Sweden. It was formed in a 2006 merger between the Swedish Industrial Union (Industrifacket) and the Swedish Metalworkers' Union (Metall). Its roots in Metall trace back to 1888. IF Metal ...

Presidents

:1925: Fritjof Ekman :1932: Gunnar Andersson :1937: Oscar Westerlund :1948:

Arne Geijer Arne Geijer (born 7 May 1910, in Söderala, Söderhamn Municipality, Hälsingland, died 27 January 1979 in Bromma, Stockholm) was a Swedish trade union organizer. Geijer left school when he was thirteen and began working in agriculture. He l ...

:1956: Åke Nilsson :1971: Bert Lundin :1982: Leif Blomberg :1993: Göran Johnsson

External links

References

Swedish Trade Union Confederation Metal trade unions Trade unions in Sweden 1888 establishments in Sweden Trade unions established in 1888 Trade unions disestablished in 2006 {{Sweden-org-stub