On 18 May, Grafiska Fackförbundet, Sweden’s Graphical Workers’ Union, and Skogs-och Träfacket, the Forest and Wood Trades Union, held their last Congresses in Stockholm. On 19 May, the two Swedish national unions held a successful merger Congress, reports the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI).

Per-Olof Sjöö was elected the new President of GS, the Forestry, Wood & Graphical Workers’ Union, numbering now 70,000 union members. Three Vice Presidents were elected, Tommy Andersson, Kenneth Johansson, and Erik Georgii.

Sjöö said an immediate priority for the union will be the continued and unrelenting struggle to protect jobs, ensuring that it is not workers who foot the bill for the current economic crisis. He promised peace with the LO family of unions, but said it will not be a peaceful Swedish labour movement until the fight for justice has been won.

The ICEM extends its best to GS and knows it is ready to face the struggles that will re-shape Swedish social life and work.