Publicerad: 2026-01-07
Nyhet Why is it important to stand up for the right to negotiate our members’ salaries? This question is highly relevant at present, as the local salary negotiations have been temporarily suspended because the union and the employer are far apart. In this newsletter, we will explain a bit more about the process. We also look ahead to the coming year and the planned activities.
Reminder: If you have general questions regarding employment conditions or your ST membership, it’s easiest to contact ST Direkt at 0771–555 444 or stdirekt@st.org. For more local matters, please send us an email and we’ll respond as soon as possible: st@gu.se. During the holiday period, the ST section at GU will have limited staffing, so responses may be delayed. Please feel free to contact ST Direkt or search for frequently asked questions on the ST website: På jobbet: Svar på medlemmarnas vanligaste frågor | Fackförbundet ST.
As previously reported, the ST section at the University of Gothenburg has expressed criticism of the employer, GU, regarding the local salary negotiations. This is described in an article in ST’s magazine Publikt on 5 November (only available in Swedish). ST’s criticism can be summarized as follows:
Taken together, these changes would increase the employer’s freedom to set salaries, while the union’s ability to influence individual or group salary development would be significantly reduced. Employer representatives of GU claim that the simplified model is based on trust in the ability of salary-setting managers to set the correct salary. ST argues that no manager alone – regardless of how skilled they are – can have an overall view of the entire authority, especially over a longer period.
The conflict has now entered a new phase, in which representatives of the Swedish Agency for Government Employers (Arbetsgivarverket) and OFR/S (the negotiating organization to which ST belongs) are helping the parties move forward. This is carried out through a so-called central consultation. An initial meeting was held on 18 December, and feedback will be provided on 9 January. There are still major differences on the core issue – how the concept of “negotiation” should be interpreted – but the ST section has good hopes that a joint solution will be reached.
Doctoral students’ salaries are not set individually; instead, they are governed by the so-called doctoral salary ladders at the University of Gothenburg, which are common to all trade unions. Negotiations on the ladders were concluded in October, and the new salaries for all doctoral students began to be paid in November. Link to the new agreement (2025-10-01): Doktorandstegar-lokalt-avtal-2025-10-01.pdf.
Want to discuss employment conditions, salary, or work environment issues – or just learn more about what the union does? Then drop by one of our "Coffee with the Union" events. Both ST members and other GU employees are welcome, so feel free to bring one or more colleagues. We meet at the ST office – Karl Gustavsgatan 12B, floor 4. The following dates are set for 2026:
The ST section at the University of Gothenburg will hold its annual meeting on 18 March 2026, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Motions must be submitted to the section board no later than 24 February, and all documents will be available by 10 March at the latest. The formal notice of the meeting will be sent out in mid-February. Log in to read documents from previous annual meetings (Swedish): Logga in (only for ST members).
During the autumn, new work environment representatives (= health and safety representatives, AMO) have been elected at GU for the period 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2028. The registration form is now open on the Employee Portal, and those of you who have been elected as representatives can register there. The same form is also used when the representatives end their assignment. Read more on the Employee Portal: Work environment representative (GU login required).
ST has information online for safety representatives/work environment representatives: Skyddsombud | Fackförbundet ST. There, you will also find links to training courses and tips on how AMOs can act.
At GU, there is a network for work environment representatives and chief work environment representatives, coordinated by the three trade union organizations (OFR/S, Saco-S, and Seko). All registered work environment representatives and chief work environment representatives receive invitations to meetings and training sessions.
GU offers training for all managers, HR staff, and work environment representatives. The first training session will take place in February. Read more: kompetensutveckling.gu.se/seminar/detail/4921 (GU login required).
ST, like several other unions, has committed to actively working on climate transition issues in the workplace. The ST section at GU has formed a new climate group, which will work on spreading good examples and following climate-related issues within the agency. If you're interested in learning more or want to get involved, contact st@gu.se! Read more (Swedish): Klimatomställningen | Fackförbundet ST
Publicerad: 2026-01-07
Nyhet Why is it important to stand up for the right to negotiate our members’ salaries? This question is highly relevant at present, as the local salary negotiations have been temporarily suspended because the union and the employer are far apart. In this newsletter, we will explain a bit more about the process. We also look ahead to the coming year and the planned activities.
Reminder: If you have general questions regarding employment conditions or your ST membership, it’s easiest to contact ST Direkt at 0771–555 444 or stdirekt@st.org. For more local matters, please send us an email and we’ll respond as soon as possible: st@gu.se. During the holiday period, the ST section at GU will have limited staffing, so responses may be delayed. Please feel free to contact ST Direkt or search for frequently asked questions on the ST website: På jobbet: Svar på medlemmarnas vanligaste frågor | Fackförbundet ST.
As previously reported, the ST section at the University of Gothenburg has expressed criticism of the employer, GU, regarding the local salary negotiations. This is described in an article in ST’s magazine Publikt on 5 November (only available in Swedish). ST’s criticism can be summarized as follows:
Taken together, these changes would increase the employer’s freedom to set salaries, while the union’s ability to influence individual or group salary development would be significantly reduced. Employer representatives of GU claim that the simplified model is based on trust in the ability of salary-setting managers to set the correct salary. ST argues that no manager alone – regardless of how skilled they are – can have an overall view of the entire authority, especially over a longer period.
The conflict has now entered a new phase, in which representatives of the Swedish Agency for Government Employers (Arbetsgivarverket) and OFR/S (the negotiating organization to which ST belongs) are helping the parties move forward. This is carried out through a so-called central consultation. An initial meeting was held on 18 December, and feedback will be provided on 9 January. There are still major differences on the core issue – how the concept of “negotiation” should be interpreted – but the ST section has good hopes that a joint solution will be reached.
Doctoral students’ salaries are not set individually; instead, they are governed by the so-called doctoral salary ladders at the University of Gothenburg, which are common to all trade unions. Negotiations on the ladders were concluded in October, and the new salaries for all doctoral students began to be paid in November. Link to the new agreement (2025-10-01): Doktorandstegar-lokalt-avtal-2025-10-01.pdf.
Want to discuss employment conditions, salary, or work environment issues – or just learn more about what the union does? Then drop by one of our "Coffee with the Union" events. Both ST members and other GU employees are welcome, so feel free to bring one or more colleagues. We meet at the ST office – Karl Gustavsgatan 12B, floor 4. The following dates are set for 2026:
The ST section at the University of Gothenburg will hold its annual meeting on 18 March 2026, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Motions must be submitted to the section board no later than 24 February, and all documents will be available by 10 March at the latest. The formal notice of the meeting will be sent out in mid-February. Log in to read documents from previous annual meetings (Swedish): Logga in (only for ST members).
During the autumn, new work environment representatives (= health and safety representatives, AMO) have been elected at GU for the period 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2028. The registration form is now open on the Employee Portal, and those of you who have been elected as representatives can register there. The same form is also used when the representatives end their assignment. Read more on the Employee Portal: Work environment representative (GU login required).
ST has information online for safety representatives/work environment representatives: Skyddsombud | Fackförbundet ST. There, you will also find links to training courses and tips on how AMOs can act.
At GU, there is a network for work environment representatives and chief work environment representatives, coordinated by the three trade union organizations (OFR/S, Saco-S, and Seko). All registered work environment representatives and chief work environment representatives receive invitations to meetings and training sessions.
GU offers training for all managers, HR staff, and work environment representatives. The first training session will take place in February. Read more: kompetensutveckling.gu.se/seminar/detail/4921 (GU login required).
ST, like several other unions, has committed to actively working on climate transition issues in the workplace. The ST section at GU has formed a new climate group, which will work on spreading good examples and following climate-related issues within the agency. If you're interested in learning more or want to get involved, contact st@gu.se! Read more (Swedish): Klimatomställningen | Fackförbundet ST