They guard your union rights at CBH

The union representatives on school level have mostly the same kind of tasks regardless of union membership. They participate in the school's collaboration group and discuss staff matters, reorganisations and outplacement, alterations of the school's premises, work environment issues and different decisions that affect the staff and should be collaborated with the employer.

You can contact them with problems and issues regarding the work situation and work environment.

Ann Häger Nerdell, union representative for ST

- It can be about something that is weird or needs to be improved, something that doesn't work or which you haven't been able to influence through e.g. workplace meetings. In that case, we in the union can pursue the issue instead of you doing it by yourself and give advice and support, says Ann Häger Nerdell who is union representative for the trade union ST at CBH.

ST is a trade union where the criteria for becoming a member is that you are working as a civil servant, regardless of professional profile or education. ST is the largest trade union within state services with more than 95 000 members within public authorities and agencies, companies with government mandate, universities and government financed foundations.

- As a union member, you have the possibililty to participate in having an impact. The union safeguards your rights and you have the right to legal assistance and income insurance in the case of sickness and long term sickness. You can also receive advice when it comes to salaries and conflicts. We are here if you need someone to talk to and you can also contact ST directly, says Ann Häger Nerdell.

Currently, Ann Häger Nerdell is the only ST representative at CBH, but Zofia Laine who is now chair of ST's board at KTH, is still a member of the school's collaboration group. Ann Häger Nerdell welcomes more become members and also wishes for those who would like to become a represenative to express their interest.

- On September 1, we received three new ST members at CBH and we wish them a warm welcome. In order to make a change you need to have many members to give support and weight in an issue. If you are many who want something in an issue that benefits many people you can also make a change, says Ann Häger Nerdell.

Right now there is a salary revision going on at KTH.

- In the salary revision, you as a member have the opportunity to influence your salary, through salary discussion with your employer and through completing the salary inquiry in order for ST to be able to negotiate a better salary for you. You can also get help with tips and coaching before the salary discussion, says Ann Häger Nerdell.

In 2020, the wage negotiations will take place. A new three year collective agreement will be signed for all public workplaces and Ann Häger Nerdell invites members of ST to share their views and ideas with her or with ST's board at KTH.

- There might be something that needs to be changed within ones work, or you can see a need for some kind of different benefit. Currently, when you have reached 40 years of age, you have the right to 35 days of vacation, do we want to keep it that way? Within the wage negotiations there is an opportunity of highlighting this type of issues, she says.

Emma Strömberg, union representative for SACO-S

Emma Strömberg is one of three union representatives for SACO-S at the CBH school. SACO-S is the largest employers's confederation at KTH, with 1 700 members. SACO consists of 22 different trade unions within different occupational sectors and to become a member it is required to have an academic degree.

- Which union you choose depends on background, academic education, work situation and what employment you have. We have members within many professional categories which is both fun and challenging, says Emma Strömberg.

One of the benefits for SACO members in the salary revision is the right to a salary setting discussion after the salary discussion with the employer. In case of disagreement, SACO acts as negotiator for the employee.

- Right now, SACO-S offers the opportunity to come for a drop-in to get advice on how to prepare for the salary discussion. All members have received an email with the drop-in times. You can also email us to receive support in connection to the discussions, says Emma Strömberg.

She welcomes members to make contact anytime they like, e.g. if they are worried about outplacement, or in other staff matters such as dismissal or conflict with the employer.

- Many doctoral students have questions about the syllabus, or about mediation with supervisors. It is actually a question for FA, but if you have been unable to agree, then you contact the union. It may also be about one feeling harassed. Actually, it's about all matters where you don't agree with the employer, says Emma Strömberg.

Emma Strömberg says that she wishes that more people felt that they can contact the local union representatives, especially doctoral students.

- There, I think there are unrecorded cases for different reasons, such as being in a position of dependence and that it is an international environment where one doesn't know how it works when it comes to union representatives. You can also contact the safety representatives when it comes to work environment issues, both psychosocial and the physical work environment, she says.

Anyone who wants to be a member in one of the trade unions can apply on the homepages of the unions:

ST

SACO

Contact details for union representatives at CBH

ST

Ann Häger Nerdell, union representative CBH: anhn@kth.se

SACO-S

Emma Strömberg, union representative CBH: emmast@kth.se

Olav Vahtras, union representative CBH: vahtras@kth.se

Reine Bergström, union representative CBH: reine.bergström@sth.kth.se