(edit title) Work and A-kassa When to join and who to join Options

[bobalong]

I understand that many if not all workers pay into some sort of A-kassa fund. When do payments start and who decides which one to join? There seems to be very little advice around regarding who to pay and how much etc.

Does anyone know the norm?

I did some part time work recently and then received a letter from "Fora" (avtalspension SAF-LO) which stated that as I had not chosen a pension company, they were going to administer my pension. I had never actually been asked to choose one so was a bit shocked. Is this normal? Do I need to do anything especially now that I have a different employer or will the pension contributions just keep going to them from my new employer?

Thanks in advance.

[Puffin]

I understand that many if not all workers pay into some sort of A-kassa fund. When do payments start and who decides which one to join? There seems to be very little advice ar ... (show full quote)

I understand that many if not all workers pay into some sort of A-kassa fund. When do payments start and who decides which one to join? There seems to be very little advice around regarding who to pay and how much etc.
Thanks in advance. ... (hide full quote)

Are you a member of a union? most people get A-kassa information when they join - although you do not have to be a member to join the union's A-kassa

if you are not a member you can ask around at work and see what people are a member of at your workplace - some A-kassas are linked to particular professions

[Puffin]

You have to pay in to a-kassa for a year before you can claim

[bobalong]

No I am not a member of a union. I worked previously just as an extra worker when needed so did not actually work very often.

I now have a new job which is a lot more hours. I was originally told that I would be working part time as they needed someone extra due to the amount of orders they had that had to be filled but that it would increase to full time as the other woman that works there is pregnant and does not want to work now as it is too heavy. The hours and days vary every week due to the nature of the job. There is no set pattern so it is difficult to know how much I will be earning every week.

The other woman will now not come in so I am on my own with no work colleague to ask about union membership etc. It is just me and the boss now working together. As I am new I do not want to rock the boat by talking about union membership to him at this stage in case he thinks I am getting above myself.

As the pension part of my earning from my last job appears to be going to Fora, will it continue to do so automatically?

[drubb]

Just ask him which A-kassa you should join. Then he will tell you without him thinking you are asking about joining the union. Maybe you could call Unionen or something and ask them, they can point you in the right direction,

[Yorkshireman]

Since your previous employer paid into Fora pension, they most likely had a collective agreement with a Union. Maybe Your current employer also has, or maybe not!

Collective agreements are agreements between Employers and Unions, so there is normally no obligation for them to tell You when you join that they have one.

You wont rock the boat by asking Your manager about A-Kassa and/or Union, they are bread and butter questions in Swedish employment life ...most managers would be glad to provide available info, even if just the name of a Union they deal with ... or one relevant for Your profession.

If You still feel that it is unwise to ask directly, ask indirectly ...mention that your previous employer paid pension contributions into Fora, that you dont quite understand how this carries on or not when you changed employer, do they also have a collective agreement, if so which union and does it include pension.

If Your current work is not covered by a collective agreement with a Union, and/or cannot identify which Unions (You dont have to join the Union to join it's a-kassa!) a-kassa to join, there is an independant a-kassa for those who for personal reasons wish to avoid the Unions, Alpha-Kassan:

https://www.alfakassan.se/

[bobalong]

Thanks for the info.

At my last job, they did have a union/ agreements in place etc, but I was never asked if I wanted to join the union as I was just an "extra worker", as and when required. They did ask if I was a member of a union but when I said no, they just simply said that it was not a problem as they followed X unions agreements etc and that I did not have to worry about it.

I work for a one man band outfit now. He has about 6/8 employees altogether, but they work in different places. There is 3 where I am including me but (one is off now on maternity leave and I work different days to the other woman there). I therefore doubt he has any dealings with a union. I know swedes can be a bit funny when you start to ask questions, so I am on my guard a bit.

I have a neighbour who I used to chat quite regularly to, but then she just suddenly avoided me like the plague and never spoke to me for about 3 years. It was only later after what other people had said to me about swedes that I guess she thought I was being " too nosey" by asking too many questions. I was not trying to be nosey, just trying to fit in and integrate a little and find out what people do in their spare time etc. What we as brits would call being "interested" is considered being "too forward" here I have learnt.

This is my third week now and the boss has actually started to "chat" about various things in his life and has been quite friendly so it may be that by next week when I have to hand in my hours for the month I can bring up the subject of A kassa etc without it seeming out of place.