c o n t i n u i t y a n d c o n t r ac t 267 a large number of organisations and authorities for them to issue opinions. Extensive criticism above all came from the trade union movement, and nearly1, 500 unions protested against the proposals.541 Nevertheless, in the spring of 1928, the government presented a bill, which in its general characteristics followed the draft of 1927.542After an exceptionally bitter debate, which started in the morning of May 25 and did not end until the early morning of May 26, parliament, including the second chamber, eventually accepted the controversial bill on the binding force of collective agreements and the establishment of a labour court.543 Like its predecessors, the draft of 1927 and the bill of 1928 prohibited industrial actions concerning “legal disputes” (Sw. rättstvister) which meant disputes intended to compel alteration, or if the dispute prevailed as to the correct meaning of a valid collective agreement.The norms of a collective agreement should bind the organisations as well as their members, and thus be automatically transferred to the individual contracts of employment.The system of 1928 was supported by very stiff sanctions, so that an individual could be sentenced to pay damages of 200 Swedish crowns, which was equivalent to a worker’s average monthly salary. No mandatory arbitration was prescribed concerning disputes of interests, which met the employers’ demand for a right to sympathy actions for supporting legal, primary conflicts even when a labour agreement was still in force. A special labour court was to be established in Stockholm, the purpose of which was to settle such disputes concerning collective agreements.At the same time, the Central Arbitration Board, which had been established in 1920, was to be abolished. The proposed labour court was constructed roughly in the same way 541 The opinions voice rejection of the proposal, one after the other, submitted from unions around the country. Socialdepartementets Konseljakt, 25 november 1927, nr. 33, Volume I (E 669) andVolume II (E 670).The National Archives, Stockholm. 542 Prop. 1928:39. 543 FK 1928:35, pp. 127-128; AK 1928:38, pp. 122-123; Rskr 1928:252; SFS 1928:253, 1928:254.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjYyNDk=