Swedish industrial democracy, 1977: progress and new government initiatives

Abstract

Research in the field of industrial democracy started in Sweden in the late sixties. A growing interest from rank and file unionists started the movement in trade unions as well as in political parties. The presentation in 1968 of the experience in Norway with self-governing groups created a lot of interest.¹ The unions took a somewhat reserved attitude towards the self-governing groups at the start but some academics and employers were enthusiastic. Development groups comprising union and management representatives were set up in the main sectors of the labour market and in 1970 five such groups were in operation.² Some of them hired their own specialists whereas others developed in cooperation with universities or consultant organizations.