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.
Author(s): Jesper Jørgensen, Flemming Mikkelsen
Series: Palgrave Studies in the History of Social Movements
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 395
City: Cham
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
