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The Nordea trades unions in the Nordic region have formed a new joint organisation called the Nordea Union.
"We are making world history today. This is the first cross-border union and we should be very proud of ourselves," said Liv Haug, Vice President of the Nordea Union Board at the new trade union's first Annual General Meeting (AGM), which was held at the Kobæk Strand conference centre in Denmark on 1-2 June.
The Nordic trade unions at Nordea have long had a Group-wide trade union board, the Nordea Union Board (NUB), and the activities of this Board have been described in earlier articles on Nordea's SE project on this site.
Now, a four year collaboration project under the motto "One Company – One Union" has also made it possible to formally create a joint trade union.
The Nordea Union's AGM was attended by around 60 delegates from the Nordea trade unions in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. They represented a clear majority of the approximately 30 000 employees of Nordea.
Nordea, however, has operations in a further seven European countries. The statutes that have now been adopted make it possible for trade unions from these countries to join the Nordea Union.
"But this will probably take a long time. It is difficult to form trade unions in the Baltic region, for example," said Liv Haug.
Majbritt G. Tobberup of the NUB presented a proposal on the vision, mission and common values for the Nordea Union – a proposal that was adopted following a brief debate.
The vision – "our lodestar" - is as follows:
• We are a powerful cross-border union gaining significant influence through dialogue, respect, trust and responsibility
• We add value every time and in every matter we are present
• We act and are regarded as one union
• We secure the best working conditions for our members
The mission is to "seek influence in order to achieve results in favour of our members".
The common values are:
• Independent associations
• Based on national conditions and values
• Decided by own members and representatives
• We should be characterized by responsibility, trust, respect and competence
"This is the bible that we all have to live up to when we are together in the Nordea Union," said Majbritt Tobberup.
Rauni Söderlund, the NUB's "foreign minister", emphasised the importance of also bringing the employees outside the Nordic region into the Nordea Union.
"It is not charity work to help colleagues in other countries. We need their support. We must help to build a co-operational structure and an influential system for all the Nordea countries in order to secure equal conditions and possibilities for all," she said.
"I think the highest management realizes this. We have to lobby so that they give a clear message to middle management to behave in a good Nordic way towards the employees."
Bengt Bivall, the NUB's "director of information", presented the proposed statutes for the Nordea Union. The proposal was adopted following group work and discussion. The unique trade union was formed. The NFU's President, Allan Bang, and the General Secretary, Jan-Erik Lidström were there to offer congratulations on behalf of the organisation.
Bengt Rolfer
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