Training patterns of Swedish trade unions

One of the major features of the trade union movement in Sweden is its educational effort. The ideological powerhouse of LO (the TUC) has provided, since the thirties, a wide range of ideas on the place of the trade unions in the economy. Their approach to full employment, centralised wage bargaining and differentials, the improvement of the working environment, wage earners' investment funds, works councils and the recent law on Co‐determination in Decision Making (MBL) was outlined in the April issue. But ideas have to be debated and discussed in a democratic movement. Their translation to deeds requires an informed trade union membership and leaders in the workplaces trained to inform, to persuade and to lead. The means for achieving these objectives have been through centralised and de‐centralised methods of education and training.