ST news at GU October 2024

Remember: If you have general questions regarding employment conditions and your ST membership, it is easiest to contact ST Direkt at 0771–555 444, or stdirekt@st.org. For local inquiries, contact us by e-mail at st@gu.se and we will respond as soon as we can. You can also talk to your workplace representative and faculty representative. 

The parties are preparing for this year’s negotiations

Autumn 2024 is a time of intense discussions regarding the salary revision, salary survey, and the follow-up of RALS 2023. ST's negotiations for the new salaries will begin in week 48, with final negotiations planned for week eight, 2025, meaning that the new salaries should go out with the March payroll in 2025.

The salary discussion – an important part of the salary-setting process

Many employees – not just at GU – find the salary-setting process complex and hard to grasp. An important part that you can influence is the individual salary discussion. On ST’s website, you can find several tips on how to make the dialogue as productive as possible: Lönesamtal – hur förbereder jag mig? (Salary discussion – how do I prepare? In Swedish only.)

Don’t forget to fill out the ST section’s salary survey!

Another important part of the salary revision is the survey that the ST section sends to all members who are individually negotiated (this does not apply to doctoral students, whose salaries are determined via a special salary ladder model). The survey serves as a crucial basis for the negotiations for each individual member's salary that ST has with the employer. This year’s survey was sent out on 10 October. If you haven’t received it, please contact STloneenkat@gu.se. The deadline to respond to the survey is 1 November. 

On 6 November, there is an opportunity to discuss salary issues at “Fika med facket”. More below.

PhD students and the right to extension

Doctoral students and postdocs have the right to an extension of their employment for special reasons. Therefore, a calculation of how much the employment period should be extended often needs to be made based on a broad set of reasons, such as parental leave, illness, or union duties. ST highlights that calculations are made differently among universities, which poses a risk for individual doctoral students and postdocs not being adequately compensated for the work they perform beyond their research time.

The ST section at GU, together with GUDK, has formed a working group that has begun reviewing how extensions are calculated in different departments at GU. Representatives from the section are Filip Radovic (filip.radovic@filosofi.gu.se) and Helena Rohdén (helena.rohden@gu.se). Feel free to reach out to them if you have questions, or examples of unusual calculations.

Work environment – recovery is needed even during the workday

Recovery during the workday is essential for managing work demands but has previously received too little attention. Researcher Lina Ejlertsson has identified three key factors to promote recovery: companionship, variation, and manageability. A safe work environment with good relationships is central, as well as varying tasks and work environments. Reflection, both individually and in groups, is also an important part of the recovery process. To implement recovery activities in the workplace, it is necessary to understand individual needs and to have an open dialogue. Even small efforts can make a big difference, highlighting the importance of leadership and clear frameworks.

Read more: Återhämtning under arbetsdagen – en inspirationsbok för individ och verksamhet (lu.se) (Recovery during the Workday – an inspirational book for individuals and organizations. In Swedish only.)

Work Environment Week – join ST’s webinars (21–25 October)

The union ST highlights the annual Work Environment Week (21–25 October) with a series of webinars (in Swedish) that are free for all members. Examples of content include:

• How a poor digital work environment stresses us at work.
• How to prevent threats and violence.
• How to create a sustainable life puzzle.

Updated regulations from the Swedish Work Environment Authority

The Swedish Work Environment Authority has decided on a new regulatory structure that consolidates a total of 2,300 paragraphs into 15 new provisions. Most paragraphs have been moved to different places in the new provisions, while others have been removed or replaced. You can read more and download the new provisions in PDF format on the Swedish Work Environment Authority's website (the provisions are currently in Swedish only). They will come into effect on 1 January, 2025.

ST and the union work for climate transition

Climate change is one of the greatest threats to humanity and coming to terms with it requires collaboration and engagement from all sectors in society. ST has decided to take an active role in climate transition issues in the workplace and has established a new union representative role as climate coordinator in the board. If you have an interest in climate issues and want to know more, contact us in the section board.

Read more (in Swedish): Klimatomställningen | Fackförbundet ST

Coffee with your union representatives (“Fika med facket”)

If you want to discuss employment conditions, salary, or work environment, or perhaps just learn more about what the union does – come to “Fika med facket”. Both ST members and other GU employees are welcome, so feel free to bring along a colleague or two. The next two fika meetings are:

• Wednesday, 6 November, 4:00–5:00 PM. Theme: Salary negotiations.
  ST's office at Karl Gustavsgatan 12B, floor 4.
• Wednesday, 4 December, 4:00–5:00 PM, ST's office at Karl Gustavsgatan 12B, floor 4.