Unions continue to fight Spotify – camp outside the company’s entrance

The wind picks up a yellow heart-shaped helium balloon outside Spotify headquarters.

It belonged to Unionen, one of the guilds that stood outside the company’s entrance. Sveriges Ingenjörer and Akavia also take their places on the sidewalk.

The day before, they, one of Sweden’s largest trade unions, demanded that Spotify offer a collective agreement to its employees. Together they demand the start of negotiations.

Timo Ryback, the developer at Unionen, is one of those who stood outside the steam giant’s entrance. He stands a few feet from the entrance. The jacket is decorated with a ribbon with the association’s logo. In addition to the big yellow balloon, a roll-up with the federation’s logo was also placed.

In other words, it is impossible to miss.

The motive is clear: show the employees in the company that they have the support of the unions.

Timo Rybak, Unionen, outside the Spotify headquarters on Regeringsgatan in Stockholm. Photo: Osa Johansson

Do you think you’re affecting Spotify by standing here?

“I hope that we will influence them in a positive direction, and that they will see that we are really committed to their employees and their circumstances,” says Timo Ryback.

He believes that collective agreements are a compromise that has traditionally proven to benefit both parties over time.

“Hopefully, this signal will pass.”

Have you received any response from Spotify since applying for a collective agreement?

“I cannot answer that because I am not part of this process. My main task is to ensure that there is commitment, attendance and availability of our members,” says Timo Ryback and adds:

But they have an obligation to respond to the petition within two weeks. So I think the answer will come very soon.”

Could Spotify choose to say they don’t want a collective agreement?

“This choice is entirely theirs. After all, there is also a protection for the so-called industrial strike in the Swedish constitution. If it is the case that our members, Spotify employees, have chosen to strike, then it is their right to take this kind of industrial strike. It has not been decided.” anything yet.”

Timo Rybak believes the union wants to be visible to its members on Spotify. Photo: Osa Johansson

Could this requirement affect other companies in the sector? Because there aren’t many tech companies that have collective agreements?

“It’s not the most popular ever, no. I would say the work that started, mainly within Klarna, and more popular tech companies a couple of years ago, has had an inspiring effect on more tech companies. I hope it will produce results for others in the future,” he says. says Timo Ryback.

to Henry Catalini Smithhead of the union at Spotify, the union demands were welcome news.

“I am very happy. It has been a tough six months with many hours of hard work,” he told Prickett over the phone.

“It’s not over yet, but it’s a very important milestone. It’s hard to see anything other than that we will succeed now.”

At the beginning of the year, the streaming giant announced layoffs. The next day the company’s first union club was ready, presided over by Henry Catallini-Smith. It is now believed that the majority of the company’s employees in Sweden are members of various unions.

What will happen next?

“It is possible that Spotify will come back to us and the meetings will be booked for negotiation. There will probably be a lot of meetings, but after a few months we hope to have a collective agreement, ”says Henry Catallini-Smith, who originally came from Great Britain, but moved to Sweden to work for the giant broadcasting company.

Henry Catalini Smith. Photo: Freddie Belqvist.

How confident are you that you will succeed?

“I am very sure. Negotiating collective agreements is what unions do best. It will be a great help to us during this process.”

How important is it for employees to have a collective agreement?

There seems to be a lot of consensus about how important this is. The majority of the company’s employees in Sweden are now part of the union. That probably says it all, really. Membership in unions also costs money. So it’s a strong statement that people are paying for it.”

Just like Timo Ryback, Henry Catalini-Smith believes that the movement within Spotify and Klarna, the battle for collective agreements, could ripple the waters and make other tech companies move in the same direction.

But for Henry Catalini Smith, the struggle over collective bargaining is about more than working conditions.

“Many of us who work in tech in Sweden come from other countries. It’s hard to integrate when you move here. I think this is something that helps us get closer to Swedish values, to become part of the community,” he says and continues:

“Obviously the benefits of collective bargaining are important, but for me, on an emotional level, it’s a way for me to feel more of a part of this country,” says Henry Catalini-Smith.

Breakit searched for Spotify.

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