Bumper year for trade union bosses

Trade union leaders saw their incomes increase by an average of 6 per cent last year, which is double the rate of growth for ordinary wage earners.

Published: 6 December 2006 09:41 CET

Apart from wages, other forms of remuneration such as directors’ fees are also included in the calculation.

It was an especially good year for Jan Rudén, chairman of services and communications union Seko, whose income rose by 17 per cent to just over 808,000 kronor.

The highest earner was TCO chairman Sture Nordh. A bumper year saw his income climb 8 per cent to 1.4 million kronor. TCO is the Swedish Confederation for Professional Employees.

“I think that [union] chairmen should stick to the wage increases laid out in their respective collective agreements. Without being absolutely sure I think that is also the case,” Nordh told Dagens Nyheter.

The large income increase is most likely the result of much improved directors’ fees, according to Nordh. The TCO chairman is a member of four boards, including the Fourth Swedish National Pension Fund and Folksam.