Stridsåtgärd

Stridsåtgärd is a Swedish term that translates to "industrial action" or "labor dispute." It broadly refers to measures taken by either employers or employees in a conflict regarding employment terms, wages, or working conditions. This can include actions like strikes, lockouts, work-to-rule, or boycotts.

In Sweden, stridsåtgärder are a fundamental part of the labor market system, which is characterized by strong trade unions and employer organizations. These actions are typically regulated by the Swedish Act on Co-determination at Work (Lagen om medbestämmande i arbetslivet, commonly known as MBL). The MBL framework aims to encourage negotiation and collective bargaining before resorting to stridsåtgärder.

A strike, or strejk, is a common form of stridsåtgärd where employees collectively refuse to work. Conversely, a lockout, or lockout, is an employer's action to prevent employees from entering the workplace and performing their duties. Work-to-rule, or arbetsınläggning, involves employees strictly adhering to their job descriptions and contract terms, often leading to a slowdown in operations. Boycotts, or bojkott, can involve refusing to handle products or services from a particular company.

For a stridsåtgärd to be lawful under Swedish law, it generally requires that negotiations have been exhausted and that the action is not prohibited by a collective agreement. There are specific procedures and notification requirements that must be followed. The purpose of these actions is usually to put pressure on the opposing party to agree to proposed terms or to break a deadlock in negotiations.