Engineers of Sweden provides deeper knowledge about the union in English

If you’re not raised in Sweden, it is far from obvious how the trade unions and the Swedish labour market model work. Therefore, Engineers of Sweden has now developed the English parts of the website to also include the cultural aspects of the trade unions work in Sweden.

On Engineers of Sweden’s website there is a lot of useful information for members, about pay and holidays, career development and union work – which is also translated into English. However, to meet the needs of the member base there was a need to develop the information.

– There are many things that you’re not aware of if you are a non-Swedish speaking person from another country. Thus, there are other perspectives and other questions about the union and the membership that are important to explain, says Annie Engwall, advisor at Engineers of Sweden.

Basic knowledge about the union

During the year, Annie Engwall has led the work of developing parts of the website in English, especially About us, the part that provides more basic answers to how the trade union works. 

Here you can find answers to questions about the role of the union in Sweden and information on how it works to be part of a membership democracy, collective agreements and local representation. But also concrete examples of what support you can receive as a member, for example, income insurance, salary statistics, career support and benefits to improve your personal well-being.

Who benefits from visiting this page?

– We see several target groups. Partly those who are new in Sweden, but also union representatives who have colleagues who were not raised in Sweden – and internally for our advice and member service at Engineers of Sweden. Counseling becomes easier when we have a uniform language and way of explaining that also takes into account the recipient’s worldview and background, she explains.

Worried about corruption

Since engineering is an international profession, there are great opportunities to apply knowledge and work in other countries. Therefore, it is not uncommon for engineers from other countries to work in Sweden.

Annie Engwall notes that some engineers from other countries feel distrust or concern about potential consequences of joining a union: Could a union membership lead to problems for me in the workplace?

– That’s why it’s important to explain how the Swedish model works, how the relationship between unions and employers are in Sweden and that there is nothing dangerous or politically charged about being part of the union. It’s a well-established form of support system that also helps you in your everyday work life, she says.

Common questions are how the local union works, how the representatives are selected, and if they can be trusted, since they work at the same company.

– Some are worried about corruption because they don’t know how union representatives are appointed or what their duties entails. The local representatives are chosen and voted for by colleagues in a proper democratic process. As a local representative they also receive extensive training from Engineers of Sweden to handle negotiations and other situations that may arise, says Annie Engwall.

Questions about membership

Even purely basic questions, such as the difference between unemployment insurance funds (a-kassa) and union membership, what the union does locally in a workplace and why you should be a member of the union at all, are common subjects that are raised in conversations. 

– Previously, we noticed that many conversations in English became very detailed and we needed to explain things more thoroughly. Now that we have adapted the information, the conversations go much more smoothly. 

Annie Engwall notes that the site works as a good complement to other initiatives to promote union work for people who do not have a Swedish background, such as the Working in Sweden seminar and Fika med facket. 

– Our work on developing the information in English continues. Right now we are looking at how we can develop the FAQ section so that it better matches the questions that this target group has. Furthermore, there are several parallel projects underway focusing on non-Swedish speaking members, says Annie Engwall.