Cleaning Strike in Sweden Called Off: New Collective Agreement Reached
The cleaning strike in Sweden has been called off after unions and employers reached a wage agreement.
Key Points
- • The cleaning strike has been averted after unions accepted a mediation proposal.
- • Wage increases of 3.4% in the first year and 3% in the second were agreed upon.
- • Part-time employees will receive equal overtime compensation as full-timers.
- • Both the cleaning and healthcare strikes are officially called off.
The planned cleaning strike in Sweden has been successfully averted as unions Fastighets and Seko reached an agreement with the employer organization Almega following mediation on June 15, 2025. The agreement outlines significant wage increases and protections for part-time workers, preventing potentially disruptive strikes affecting numerous companies.
According to reports, the new collective agreement includes wage increases of 3.4% for the first year, followed by 3% in the second year. Notably, the agreement ensures that part-time employees will receive the same overtime compensation as their full-time colleagues, which was a critical point of contention during negotiations (SVT, 2025).
The strike was initially set to impact cleaning services in 14 major companies, including AstraZeneca, Scania, Volvo Group, and Viking Line, with actions scheduled to begin at 6 AM on the morning following the agreement. This strike posed a serious threat to the operational capacity of these companies and could have disrupted essential services (SVT, 2025).
In addition to the cleaning strike resolution, it was also confirmed that the healthcare strike, which had similarly raised concerns about public service disruptions, was called off following negotiations as well (Sveriges Radio, 2025). The simultaneous conclusion of these labor disputes restores normalcy in affected sectors, alleviating fears of service interruptions and operational chaos in public services.
Union representatives expressed satisfaction with the resolution, indicating that the new agreements reflect the necessary improvements in working conditions that employees sought. This development represents a victory for labor unions and a commitment to improving working standards across industries in Sweden.
Overall, the successful conclusion of both strikes marks a significant milestone in labor relations in Sweden, highlighting the importance of dialogue and mediation in resolving workplace disputes.