FROM PAGE TEN

CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES

Be amended by:

Changing the figure two dollars ($2.00) to read five dollars ($5.00) and by deleting
all words after the word “Fund” in the second line.

Article VI, Section 5(a) would then read:

“An assessment of five dollars ($5.00) per member per month shall be paid into the

Strike Fund”, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That the Regional Executive Board be given authorization to conduct the referen-

dum vote at a more appropriate time, and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That the assessment remain in full force and effect until changed by future

Regional Convention action.

CONVENTION ACTION:
AMSC: CONCURRENCE

Submitted by Regional Executive Board

REPORT ON
SWEDISH UNIONS

Report by Frank Wall, Director of
Education, Regional Council No. 1,
IWA, on his recent trip to Sweden.

In Sweden the first working environment
legislation was drafted nearly one hundred
years ago. Originally the law was aimed at
preventing accidents on the job.

Today legislation in Sweden has gone
much further than that and aims itself at
“The Working Environment”.

In 1978 when “The Working Environment
Act” was passed it differed to a great extent
from previous laws.

In the first place it covers more groups of
employees and it establishes their right to
satifactory working conditions.

In the second place the Act broadens the
concept of “working environment” to
include both mental and physical health.

The working conditions shall be made to
conform to human needs and limitations,
both physical and psychological.

The Working Environment Act is a so-
called “Skeleton law” that lays down the

of the workers’ be it safety and health, the
environment, labour legislation, national
economy and unemployment were matters
and subjects of concern to unionists as well
as politicians and legislatures.

It soon becomes apparent that one of the
main reasons that there is so much input
and involvement by unionists and citizens
in general is the effect that Workers Study
Groups have had on the affairs of the
Nation.

The trade union and political movement
in Sweden came into being during the latter
half of the Nineteenth Century. In 1889, the
Swedish Social Democratic Party (SAP)
was formed. By the end of the Century there
were so many unions that some sort of
co-ordination became necessary that the
Swedish Trade Union Confederation was
founded in 1898. It was universally called
the LO.

The early pioneers of the movement saw
the need for training of its members as to
what the movement stood for. In 1912,
“Arbetrnas Bildningsforbund” known in
Sweden as “ABF” was formed jointly by the
three main organizations constituting the
labour movement. These were: LO, the
Swedish Cooperative Union and Wholesale
Society (KF) and the Swedish Social-Demo-
cratic Party (SAP). The Workers Educa-
tional Association (ABF) was formed to
co-ordinate, encourage and develop popular
education within the labour and trade union
movement.

The Study Circle was the method that
became most widely used in this educational
work. Study Circles take the form of small

groups within which members work |

together on democratic lines. %

During the years that followed residential
courses were organized and given. Subjects
included Labour History, Trade Unionism,
Language, etc.

During the 1950’s the pace of education
quickened somewhat due to Parliament’s
decision in 1947 to make State grants
towards the type of popular education
carried on, among other bodies, by the trade
unions.

During the Fifties development in the ©
form of residential courses organized cen-
trally by the unions which enabled members
from all over the country to attend, were
embarked upon.

It was at those settings that responsible
discussion leaders were encouraged by their
unions to organize educational activities at
the local level.

In 1961, the LO Congress declared trade
union education to be one of the most
important tasks facing the movement.
Courses on new and important questions for
the trade union movement began and the
numbers attending Study Circles increased.

As time went by it brought new changes
and challenges to the union movements. It
was essential that the membership should
be well prepared by union education. The
new tasks in question consisted of the effort
to democratize working life, to improve the
working environment, to create and put into
effect joint decision making at the work-
place, to provide for job security, more time
for union work and so on.

This trade union education, training if
you will should create a foundation for
working together in the task of changing, by
democratic means, conditions on the job, in
the labour market, and within their society.

In order to try and reach all members of
the trade union in Sweden much use is made
of Study Circles and also short courses
lasting from 2-3 days. Study Circle work or
programs are organized by the local unions.

One of the main reasons unions make
chief use of Study Circles is that it is a
method that builds on the co-operation of
the members themselves. They require less
costly resources and since they are localized,
they do not involve long journeys for those
taking part.

One could go on ad-infinitum about an
exciting place like Sweden even though
most of our activities were confined to the
Stockholm area. Nevertheless the remarks
are of a national character.

That one is left with the impression much
has been accomplished by the Union Move-
ment in Sweden is something of an under-
statement. Great strides have and continue
to be made in many, many areas. Yet at
present they too! are worried about unem-
ployment and inflation. But one can readily
see that while workers and citizens are the
subjects of these difficult times, all seem to
try to participate in trying to find solutions
to these problems.

basic concepts and principles governing
their view of the working environment. It
has been written in such a manner that it
can be adapted to changes in the working
environment.

The practical contents of the Act are
obtained in two ways:

1. Through the rules and directivesissued
by the National Board of Occupational
Safety and Health, and

2. Through the agreements reached by
the parties on the labour market.

The above comments are taken from a
booklet entitled, “We have no excuse for not
improving the working environment in
Sweden.” It is published in conjunction with
the SAF (the Swedish Employers Con-
federation), LO (the Swedish Confederation
of Trade Unions) and PTK (the Swedish
Federation of Salaried Employees in Indus-
try and Services).

While the purpose of the trip made
recently was primarily directed to the study
of the operations, methods and effectiveness
of Workers Study Circles, Brothers Art
Kube, Canadian Labour Congress Educa-
tional Director for the Pacific Region and
myself soon became aware that every facet

TOO HOT TO HANDLE!

1982
SCANDAL CALENDAR

Sears and other outlets won’t touch the 1982
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“*..a@ fine job in putting together what is
really a very sad commentary on the record of
the Social Credit governments in B.C.””

—Dave Barrett

The Social Credit Scandal Calendar is $6.95 and
available in most bookstores, or by mail from New
‘Star Books, 2504 York Avenue, Vancouver, B.C.
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BULK DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE
Get a 40 per cent discount when your local buys 20

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(weekday afternoons).

12/Lumber Worker/December, 1981