This is The Union for Professionals (Akademikerförbundet SSR)

The Union for Professionals is a trade union for university graduates with degree in social science, behavioral science or social work.  We organize over 60 000 members in both public and private sector. The organization consists of more than 300 local and regional organizations with one national office based in Stockholm. The Congress, that meets every third year, is the highest governing body The Union for Professionals is a member of Saco, the Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations, a politically independent confederation of 22 unions of university graduates with totally approximately 600,000 members. We are also a member of PSI-Public Services International and EPSU-European Public Services Unions.

Aims and activities

The Union for Professionals takes a clear stand in political issues that concern our members although we are totally independent from the different political parties in Sweden. Our work is related to employment, working conditions, labor market and education but can also be related to the members’ possibility to develop and conduct professional work. That means that we put a lot of effort into lobbying the government, the parliament and other sectors of the society on issues that is related to our members and their professions. To us certain values are guiding us in all our work. We demand equality at the workplace and in the labor market and equal employment for everyone regardless of gender, ethnic background, sexual orientation or disability. We demand that salary should be based on competence. We say that an equal labor market provides the opportunity to combine work and parenting for both men and women.

The Collective Agreements and the Collective Bargaining is fundamental for the Swedish labor market and for us the most important tool to regulate working conditions and benefits for our members. That characterizes almost all our work.

Our competent and trained ombudsmen support and advice to members on an individual bases and they do also represent them in negotiations with employers whenever needed.

We strive to promote and further develop the professional roles of our members and to influence the quality and conditions of university education in our respective disciplines. In the professional field we endeavor to improve professional performance by focusing on ethics and quality development and by arranging major annual professional seminars and conferences.

International commitment

Solidarity is the basis of all union activity. The commitment to solidarity includes support for colleagues and sister organizations all around the world. This is accomplished in part through our Solidarity Fund aimed at international development aid for professional development, trade union rights, human rights and social justice.

Sweden´s membership in the EU creates demands for participation and for continuous development of co-operation with colleagues and other professional associations. The Union of Professionals is a member of EPSU. We are represented in the Executive Board and in EPSUs standing committees.

The union is affiliated with the International Federation of Social Workers, IFSW and is a member of the International Council on Social Welfare, ICSW.