Comments on: Interview: Salad Bar Owner v Restaurant Union http://www.thelocal.se/blog/20061207/64/ Swedish stuff distracting us today Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:51:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tobias « The journey of one girl, one brain tumo(u)r and perhaps a bit more http://www.thelocal.se/blog/20061207/64/comment-page-1/#comment-31486 Tobias « The journey of one girl, one brain tumo(u)r and perhaps a bit more Sun, 17 Jun 2007 00:53:00 +0000 http://www.thelocal.se/blog/20061207/64/#comment-31486 [...] June 17, 2007 at 1:52 am · Filed under 'Ska bli frisk' (All posts) Sometimes I just need inspiration, hence I browse the Web. What compells me to write is all about urge. If I don’t feel it- I won’t write it. I have something brewing on the “Swedish Fuck Union” and a sallad bar incident. The latter provided the final nail in the coffin I needed to just ask myself, why do I pay several hundred kronors per month for such rubbish? Besides, I’m on sick-leave and I asked my union what they could do for me. I got the answer “nothing”. [...] [...] June 17, 2007 at 1:52 am · Filed under ‘Ska bli frisk’ (All posts) Sometimes I just need inspiration, hence I browse the Web. What compells me to write is all about urge. If I don’t feel it- I won’t write it. I have something brewing on the “Swedish Fuck Union” and a sallad bar incident. The latter provided the final nail in the coffin I needed to just ask myself, why do I pay several hundred kronors per month for such rubbish? Besides, I’m on sick-leave and I asked my union what they could do for me. I got the answer “nothing”. [...]

]]> By: Nomens Nescio http://www.thelocal.se/blog/20061207/64/comment-page-1/#comment-9410 Nomens Nescio Wed, 14 Mar 2007 18:37:51 +0000 http://www.thelocal.se/blog/20061207/64/#comment-9410 > If she intends to follow the law, there is no non-> political reason not to sign the agreement. Except that the employees does not want to support a corrupt political party and except for the human rights issue and except that they get more mony than the union stipulates and that they do not want to support union representatives only motivated by greed and malevolence directed at them and their employer on union bigwigs with CEO-style salaries and ploticians on their payroll. Few people the age of these emploees like the union. Most pay their protection money in fear of the union, not in case they get in trouble with the employer. Some people change their mind about unions when they start a family and need more security. Unions are this destructive and authoritarian only because they provide nothing that would attract voluntary members. > If she intends to follow the law, there is no non-> political reason not to sign the agreement.

Except that the employees does not want to support a corrupt political party and except for the human rights issue and except that they get more mony than the union stipulates and that they do not want to support union representatives only motivated by greed and malevolence directed at them and their employer on union bigwigs with CEO-style salaries and ploticians on their payroll. Few people the age of these emploees like the union. Most pay their protection money in fear of the union, not in case they get in trouble with the employer.

Some people change their mind about unions when they start a family and need more security.

Unions are this destructive and authoritarian only because they provide nothing that would attract voluntary members.

]]> By: robert http://www.thelocal.se/blog/20061207/64/comment-page-1/#comment-1321 robert Fri, 05 Jan 2007 21:45:14 +0000 http://www.thelocal.se/blog/20061207/64/#comment-1321 The "Swedish-Model" in short: Actually, there is absolutely noting that prevents the restaurant owner from giving her employees more money than the agreement with the union states. Obviously, no union would want to keep the wages down. Nearly everything in the agreement is already stated in the Swedish law. The agreement is merely a clarification so that the employee can feel certain that the employer knows the law and intends to follow it. The one thing not covered by the law in Sweden is minimum wages. Instead, for the restaurant business this is regularly negotiated between the employer's union and the worker's union nation wide. The raises are just above the economic growth rate of the nation to prevent inflation. The agreement prevents the employers to dump the wages. Sweden doesn't have 0% unemployment which means that the employees just can't leave and take another job, as an previous author suggested. As stated by previous authors, this is a model that is supported by all political parties that is represented in the Swedish parliament. The big restaurant chains like McDonald's, BurgerKing, PanPizza, et.al. all have these agreements. And they are pro-union in Sweden, since the system is transparent, balanced and fair. If she intends to follow the law, there is no non-political reason not to sign the agreement. The “Swedish-Model” in short:

Actually, there is absolutely noting that prevents the restaurant owner from giving her employees more money than the agreement with the union states. Obviously, no union would want to keep the wages down.

Nearly everything in the agreement is already stated in the Swedish law. The agreement is merely a clarification so that the employee can feel certain that the employer knows the law and intends to follow it.

The one thing not covered by the law in Sweden is minimum wages. Instead, for the restaurant business this is regularly negotiated between the employer’s union and the worker’s union nation wide. The raises are just above the economic growth rate of the nation to prevent inflation.

The agreement prevents the employers to dump the wages. Sweden doesn’t have 0% unemployment which means that the employees just can’t leave and take another job, as an previous author suggested.

As stated by previous authors, this is a model that is supported by all political parties that is represented in the Swedish parliament. The big restaurant chains like McDonald’s, BurgerKing, PanPizza, et.al. all have these agreements. And they are pro-union in Sweden, since the system is transparent, balanced and fair.

If she intends to follow the law, there is no non-political reason not to sign the agreement.

]]> By: mark http://www.thelocal.se/blog/20061207/64/comment-page-1/#comment-684 mark Thu, 21 Dec 2006 22:17:41 +0000 http://www.thelocal.se/blog/20061207/64/#comment-684 I write as a small business owner in G�teborg. The blockade of Wild n Fresh is totally unbalanced and can not be justified by the unions. Has anyone considered the "human rights issue" in this" ? Sofia Applegren has her own perfect right to decide not to sign the collective agreement and to agree on her own arrangements with her employees. Why should the unions use force and intimidation on a small business against her will? Where is the equality in the wonderful Swedish Model? I asked the pickets outside Wild n Fresh "Why are you doing this?" They replied "Because she is not paying her employees enough". Well, I said "All they need to do is to walk away from the job if that is the case!" Those guys outside her place are just puppets, being used by the top people in the unions who have had it so good for so long that they cannot see the end of the road for them, eller hur? I write as a small business owner in G�teborg. The blockade of Wild n Fresh is totally unbalanced and can not be justified by the unions. Has anyone considered the “human rights issue” in this” ?
Sofia Applegren has her own perfect right to decide not to sign the collective agreement and to agree on her own arrangements with her employees. Why should the unions use force and intimidation on a small business against her will?
Where is the equality in the wonderful Swedish Model?
I asked the pickets outside Wild n Fresh “Why are you doing this?” They replied “Because she is not paying her employees enough”. Well, I said “All they need to do is to walk away from the job if that is the case!”
Those guys outside her place are just puppets, being used by the top people in the unions who have had it so good for so long that they cannot see the end of the road for them, eller hur?

]]> By: chris http://www.thelocal.se/blog/20061207/64/comment-page-1/#comment-605 chris Tue, 19 Dec 2006 16:00:58 +0000 http://www.thelocal.se/blog/20061207/64/#comment-605 I know a lot of people who work in the restaurant busines. I would say 70% have worked black ,or are working black... just another example of double standard's... the Swedish system indeed! I know a lot of people who work in the restaurant busines. I would say 70% have worked black ,or are working black… just another example of double standard’s… the Swedish system indeed!

]]> By: Donna in USA http://www.thelocal.se/blog/20061207/64/comment-page-1/#comment-601 Donna in USA Tue, 19 Dec 2006 13:50:55 +0000 http://www.thelocal.se/blog/20061207/64/#comment-601 First I should say that I have never worked in a union job. I have never been discriminated against, received unfair wages or benefits. Not all jobs had health insurance, but I knew that in advance. The best part of the system is that it is a matter of CHOICE and personal responsibility. There are enough jobs here that you can leave one and go to another within days if you are willing to work. My husband's wages here are double what they were in Sweden. Additionally, there are so many people working and so many jobs that prices are lower than many other countries. I can buy a Husqvarna products here for 1/2 the price you pay in Sweden. It's a good system. You should try it. First I should say that I have never worked in a union job. I have never been discriminated against, received unfair wages or benefits. Not all jobs had health insurance, but I knew that in advance. The best part of the system is that it is a matter of CHOICE and personal responsibility. There are enough jobs here that you can leave one and go to another within days if you are willing to work. My husband’s wages here are double what they were in Sweden. Additionally, there are so many people working and so many jobs that prices are lower than many other countries. I can buy a Husqvarna products here for 1/2 the price you pay in Sweden. It’s a good system. You should try it.

]]> By: Victoria http://www.thelocal.se/blog/20061207/64/comment-page-1/#comment-598 Victoria Tue, 19 Dec 2006 12:34:07 +0000 http://www.thelocal.se/blog/20061207/64/#comment-598 What public funds are those Ross? What public funds are those Ross?

]]> By: Ross Peterson http://www.thelocal.se/blog/20061207/64/comment-page-1/#comment-510 Ross Peterson Sun, 17 Dec 2006 14:01:38 +0000 http://www.thelocal.se/blog/20061207/64/#comment-510 As a non Swede living in Gothenburg, I find this whole scenario an extreme example of the many instances where public funds are spent inefficiently. This young, energetic, entrepreneur should be commended for sticking to her initial stance. Hang in there Sofia. The longer you do the more ridiculous the union will appear to the public, and the sooner they will be forced to move on to something more important. As a non Swede living in Gothenburg, I find this whole scenario an extreme example of the many instances where public funds are spent inefficiently. This young, energetic, entrepreneur should be commended for sticking to her initial stance. Hang in there Sofia. The longer you do the more ridiculous the union will appear to the public, and the sooner they will be forced to move on to something more important.

]]> By: Nomens Nescio http://www.thelocal.se/blog/20061207/64/comment-page-1/#comment-465 Nomens Nescio Sat, 16 Dec 2006 00:42:07 +0000 http://www.thelocal.se/blog/20061207/64/#comment-465 Sofia Appelgren does not withhold any money. The get more than they would with the union and they get it all in cache. The union would take some of it for the unions political activities and some to buy substandard insurances from the unions affilated insurance company who return the favour by puting union and social democratic bigwigs on its lucurative board positions. Sofia Appelgren does not withhold any money. The get more than they would with the union and they get it all in cache. The union would take some of it for the unions political activities and some to buy substandard insurances from the unions affilated insurance company who return the favour by puting union and social democratic bigwigs on its lucurative board positions.

]]> By: Victoria http://www.thelocal.se/blog/20061207/64/comment-page-1/#comment-377 Victoria Thu, 14 Dec 2006 09:15:44 +0000 http://www.thelocal.se/blog/20061207/64/#comment-377 Bill, I have worked while being a student and my sister has as well. None of those employers have ever withheld any money from me like this girl has with her employees. They lose like 15 000 kr a year with her, is that right? Bill, I have worked while being a student and my sister has as well. None of those employers have ever withheld any money from me like this girl has with her employees. They lose like 15 000 kr a year with her, is that right?

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