The former Nordic federation Nordiska Metall

The cooperation between the Nordic trade unions in the metal sector started in the beginning of the 20th century, with agreements of economical support in periods of industrial disputes.

Eventually the cooperation developed and in the 50s the presidents and the treasurers of the Nordic trade unions in the metal sector met annually for information and exchange of experiences. In time they decided to arrange some common activities, among others conferences on collective bargaining and wage policy, which contributed to the spreading of ideas like job evaluation and merit evaluation in the Nordic countries.

In the 60s the unions started discussing a more formalized cooperation.

A secretariat is established

In 1970 the unions decided to establish a secretariat for the Nordic metal workers' federation. The federation was led by Hans Rasmussen, president of CO-Industri. Hans Rasmussen was also the Nordic delegate in the executive committee of IMF (International Metalworkers' Federation).

Important issues during the 70s were - apart from matters concerning collective bargaining - health and safety and the renewal of work organization, as well as matters concerning the development of branches, for example ship yards. The federation also discussed a common labour market and economical cooperation in the North. The European common market and questions like economic democracy became of greater interest.

When Denmark joined the European Union in 1973, the Nordic metal unions decided to join EMF (European Metal Workers' Federation), in order not to be excluded from European cooperation (though Finland didn't join until 1977 and then only as associated member). Nordiska Metall became a forum for discussions and coordination before the meetings at the EMF.

In 1976 the federation Nordiska Metall got it's first Icelandic affiliate, Malm og Skibassmidasamband.

Diversification

Important issues in the 80s were collective bargaining, health and safety, education and training, industrial policy and occupation, as well as the matter of developing cooperation between trade unions in groups of companies. The federation was also in a certain degree occupied with environmental issues. An ad hoc-group was established to follow the development of the European common market. At the same time the cooperation with trade unions in other countries was intensified.

As a result of the Nordic cooperation Marcello Malentachhi from the Swedish trade union Svenska Metall was elected general secretary of IMF in 1989.

A higher degree of concentration

In the beginning of the 90s an ad hoc-group went over the work and working methods of the federation and as a result of this the federation decided to focus less on exchange of experiences and more on drawing up common guidelines and policies, to work more in direction of Europe and to concentrate on fewer areas of work: collective bargaining, industrial policy, health and safety and education and training.

An agreement of cooperation was signed with trade unions for white collar workers in the metal sector. Some years later the statutes were changed so that also white collar unions could join Nordiska Metall, which they did in 1996.

In the end of the 90s the federation decided also to focus on transnational negotiations and on the work with European Works Councils.

Merger with NIF

In 2006 the federation Nordiska Metall merged with another Nordic federation, NIF. Nordic IN was founded.

Presidents of the federation Nordiska Metall

1970-1972 Hans Rasmussen, the Danish trade union CO-Metall

1972-1981 Bert Lundin, the Swedish trade union Svenska Metall

1982-1984 Sulo Penttilä, the Finnish trade union Metalli

1984-1987 Lars Skyøten, the Norwegian trade union Jern- og Metallarbeiderforbund

1987-1991 Georg Poulsen, the Danish trade union CO-Metall

1991-1993 Leif Blomberg, the Swedish trade union Svenska Metall

1993-2000 Per-Erik Lundh, the Finnish trade union Metalli

2000-2004 Max Baehring, the Danish trade union CO-industri

2004-2005 Kjell Bjørndalen, the Norwegian trade Fellesforbundet

Nordic officers / General secretaries

1971-1973 Birger Viklund

1974-1985 Jan Hodann

1985-1991 Mats Jönsson

1991-2003 Kaj Laxén

2003-2005 Jyrki Raina