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The Vaxholm case from a Swedish and European perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Kerstin Ahlberg

    (Head of Research Department — National Institute for Working Life Department for Labour Law, Labour Market and Citizenship — SE-113 91 Stockholm — Sweden)

  • Niklas Bruun

    (Professor of EU Labour Law — National Institute of Working Life and Hanken School of Economics PB 479 — 00101 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Jonas Malmberg

    (Professor of Labour Law — National Institute for Working Life — Department for Labour Law, Labour Market and Citizenship — SE-113 91 Stockholm — Sweden)

Abstract

The Vaxholm (or Laval) case concerns an industrial action undertaken on a building site in Vaxholm, a town not far from Stockholm, Sweden. The work was performed by Latvian workers employed by a Latvian company. In order to put pressure on the company to conclude a collective agreement the Swedish Building workers' union initiated industrial action, including a ban on all building and installation. This blockade was supported by the Electricians' Union through a secondary action. Both the primary and the secondary actions were lawful under Swedish law. The case raises the question whether the industrial action or Swedish law is contrary to Community law on the free movement of services or the Posted Workers Directive. The case is now pending before the European Court of Justice (ECJ). The aim of this article is to present the background and context of the Vaxholm case for a non-Swedish audience and to outline the main issues of legal interpretation at stake, as well as their background in the Swedish industrial relations system and in Swedish and European law. The authors also point to some probable solutions in the light of earlier case-law of the ECJ.

Suggested Citation

  • Kerstin Ahlberg & Niklas Bruun & Jonas Malmberg, 2006. "The Vaxholm case from a Swedish and European perspective," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 12(2), pages 155-166, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:treure:v:12:y:2006:i:2:p:155-166
    DOI: 10.1177/102425890601200204
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