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It could have been Stefan Löfven’s best week so far as Prime Minister. News came Monday that Preem is canceling its expansion plans at Lysekil. Thus, the most acute threat to the continued existence of the red-green government was ruled out. Had LO also reached an agreement with the Swedish Business Confederation, Löfven could have served a champagne bath at Sagerska’s house.
But that did not happen. The night before Thursday, negotiations on the labor law failed. Exactly what the talks were about is unclear at this point, but it was already obvious beforehand that the parties were far apart.
It’s not that weird. For decades, LO has been able to lean toward legislation that unilaterally benefits unions. At the same time, the Confederation of Swedish Companies knows that there is a study proposal prepared that will greatly improve the situation of companies, especially small ones.
This means that the parties’ January plan, that the threat of legislation would force the parties to reach an agreement, has failed. The question is back on Stefan Löfven’s lap and the arms race is already underway in the three-front war that awaits him.
On the one hand, the Left Party threatens a declaration of censorship if the investigation proposal is carried out. On the other hand, the Center Party and the Liberals have made it clear that they expect the January agreement to be fulfilled, that is, that the investigation proposals are implemented. Furthermore, LO makes it clear that it will never accept a proposal for a new labor law.
Thus, Löfven runs the risk of a crisis of government and a crisis with the supporting parties C and L and a crisis in the historically close relationship with LO.
It is not an enviable seat for a prime minister. But it is the Social Democrats who have voluntarily sat there in order to retain power in Rosenbad. The 73-point agreement is very clear on the crucial point: “Otherwise, the investigation proposal will be implemented,” he says of the situation that has now arisen.
It’s time for something really meaningful to come out of the January collaboration.
The Social Democrats will try in every way to avoid these words by negotiating and delaying. When the research proposal was presented, that operation began. The proposal was challenged, despite having a highly experienced and recognized qualified investigator, and clause 20 of the January agreement was given a new creative meaning. Suddenly, vague wording on maintaining “a fundamental balance” between the social partners was seen to prevail over concrete commitments on “clearly expanded exceptions to priority rules”.
C and L shouldn’t let S get away with that kind of manipulation. If you can imagine trading something on the margins, leave it at that. For example, a step-by-step model appears to be a more reasonable solution to priority rules in LAS than a rule of five exceptions for all companies, regardless of size. But you have to lay the foundations. This applies especially to the proposal that the union no longer has the right to overturn layoffs in companies with up to 15 employees.
It’s time for something really meaningful to come out of the January collaboration. Let Löfven sweat.
