Unions threaten strike against Skanska

Up to 2,000 employees at Swedish construction company Skanska could be affected by an industry union strike that might begin last week, a spokeswoman for the company said on 2 March, it was reported.

The Swedish construction workers' union, Byggnads, previous week gave notice of a strike, which will be implemented in two stages unless the union can reach a deal on a new collective agreement with the employers' organisation Sveriges Byggindustrier.

In total, about 3,000 union members could go on strike. Skanska spokeswoman Mia Trahn said. Some 700 Skanska employees would be directly affected by the strike, and the company estimates that another 200 won't be able to work if the strike comes into effect.

In addition, about 1,000 Skanska employees would be indirectly affected if the strike is expanded to include operators of cranes and concrete pump trucks, Trahn said.

The strike announced by Byggnads would be implemented in two stages. The first stage would start on 7 March, and the second will begin on March 14, if no agreement is reached by then.