The Saco-S Council at Lund University
We are the negotiating organisation for more than 4,500 Saco members at Lund University. Regardless of which of the 18 member associations you belong to, you will receive the same support from us. Union membership is high at Lund University. Our members care about the university and its development, and so does Saco-S.
Our role and mission
At Saco-S Lund University, we believe our most important role is to contribute to sound decision-making, whether it concerns our members' working conditions or the quality of the university's activities. Like Lund University, we regard collegial governance as a cornerstone of the university.
Collegiality and transparency
The introduction to Lund University's Rules of Procedure states that the university's success is closely linked to a tradition of collegiality, where academic education and research are developed and safeguarded through collegial review and discussion.
Saco-S believes that the same principles should apply to employment and personnel matters. To promote openness and transparency, our members can access our analyses, minutes, negotiation proposals and the employer's decisions here.
A sound personnel policy at Lund University should be able to withstand collegial scrutiny and open discussion.
Saco-S as a negotiating partner
Lund University is one of Sweden's largest public authorities. Members of Saco-S unions form a clear majority of the university's unionised employees, with more than 4,500 members.
This gives the Saco-S Council a strong position in dialogue and negotiations with the employer. Almost all of Saco's 21 unions and professional associations for academics are represented at Lund University.
The five largest Saco-S unions at the university are the Swedish Association of University Teachers and Researchers (SULF), the Swedish Association of Graduate Engineers (SI), Naturvetarna, Akavia and DIK.
Representation on the Saco-S Council
All Saco-S unions with members at Lund University are represented on the Saco-S Council. The number of representatives each union has depends on its membership at the university.
The work of the board
The Saco-S Council elects a board each year to lead and coordinate its activities. The board meets weekly, together with co-opted members, to discuss and plan negotiation matters.
Board members are elected at the Saco-S Council's annual meeting in May. The composition of the board is intended to reflect that of the council and therefore usually includes representatives from the largest unions.
The board consists of nine members and two deputy members.
Negotiations and union representation
The Saco-S Council Board and staff at the Saco faculty office represent all Saco-S members in negotiations and consultations with the employer. Regardless of department or faculty, we can represent all Saco-S affiliated employees at Lund University. Negotiations may take place at individual, local, or university-wide level.
These negotiations may concern matters affecting individual members, such as salary reviews or termination of employment, as well as broader issues, including budget matters and organisational change.
Collective agreements and cooperation with the employer
Negotiations may result in collective agreements, such as working time agreements and broader agreements covering work environment issues.
However, most negotiations take place within the framework of cooperation and consultation under the Co-Determination Act (MBL), where the employer makes the final decision after negotiations have been completed. One example is the annual discussions on resource allocation with faculty management.