The sharing economy threatens Nordic trade unions

The sharing economy is a brand new phenomenon which has exploded into fast moving marketplaces with names like Uber, Netflix and Airbnb. It’s all about renting, not owning — be it a car, a boat, a bike or using your own home to make a little extra cash. New online technology creates new opportunities for both consumers and producers, without anyone really knowing the future extent or consequences of this market. The Nordic Labour Journal looks at how the sharing economy is shaping up in Denmark, Finland and Sweden, and how it affects the labour market.

Dec 12, 2014 | Photo: AP Photo/John Locher/NTB scanpix

Above: The taxiservice Uber has now been launched in the Nordic countries. Here is area manager for Northwest USA, William Barnes, during a launch in Las Vegas.

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Latest news: Sweden’s government crisis means less money for working life (Dec 08, 2014) On Wednesday 3 December Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Löfven announced snap elections will be held on 22 March 2015. His centre-left minority government’s budget was voted down in parliament, which also means the promised increase in spending for the Public Employment Service and the Work Environment Authority will not materialise.; Iceland: fewer take paternity leave (Dec 08, 2014) When Iceland introduced paid paternity leave in 2000 it was a huge success. New fathers welcomed the opportunity to stay at home with their children. But the trend has not continued, and fathers’ income opportunities have worsened. Families can no longer afford the cut in earnings.; Arch rivals form coalition government in Greenland (Dec 05, 2014) The Siumut party secured a narrow victory in Greenland’s general elections and has formed a government with the two centre-right parties Atassut and the Democrats. The latter was a particular surprise choice.; The Laval judgement: Swedish government wants more power to unions (Dec 04, 2014) The Swedish government says the EU adjustment went too far when Swedish legislation was changed as a result of the EU Court of Justice’s judgement in the Laval case. A government-appointed commission has now been asked to come up with proposals for how to make it easier for trade unions to monitor the working conditions for posted workers. But the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise says the government’s ambitions are incompatible with EU law.; Jobs top of the agenda at meeting of Nordic prime minsters (Nov 10, 2014) Removing border obstacles and increasing investments to create jobs are some of the visions shared by the Nordic prime ministers. During the Stockholm session of the Nordic Council, they also expressed a wish to expand the Nordic region as a brand.; Make room for creativity in the workplace (Nov 10, 2014) Forget sending employees to courses in creativity and focus on creative breaks during the working day instead. That is one of many pieces of advice from Denmark’s new professor of creative leadership, businessman and billionaire Christian Stadil.; All news

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Gerd Kristiansen: Norwegian LO leader with a backbone

There is tension in the air. The leader for Norway’s largest labour organisation is incensed with the government’s labour policies and its lack of cooperation on the proposed new work environment act which would grant employers more powers to hire people on temporary contracts. Her determination can be felt across the room.

“This is a central issue for Norwegian workers. What is being presented to us makes me incredibly agitated,” Gerd Kristiansen tells the Nordic Labour Journal.

Two days later she and the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) announce a political strike. This has not happened since 2003, when one was held as a protest against the budget of the then centre-right government. This time it is about the present centre-right government’s proposed new work environment act.

(Photo: Trond Isaksen)