Providing a Nordic historical perspective, this collection aims to further our understanding of trade union activism and its role in modern society. Contributions from a range of leading scholars analyse the organisational conditions of mobilisation that were deployed by Nordic unionists, and explore the way that they interacted with other forms of social and political protest during the twentieth century. Covering illegal or so-called wildcat strikes, blockades, demonstrations and other activist measures, the authors examine the way that trade union activism in the Nordic countries aimed to move the political combat zone from the meeting rooms of the respective confederations into the streets and the public domain. The collection focuses on cases from Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland, but comparisons are also made with countries such as Iceland, Germany, and the USA. Exploring the ways in which political parties have intervened in Nordic trade union activism since the early twentieth century, this unique collection offers new insights for those interested in labour market dynamics and the complex process behind the formation of salary and employment conditions.

Offers insights for researchers, trade union activists and those involved in labour movement archives Contributes to a neglected area of research by shedding light on Nordic political and labour history Includes contributions from leading scholars in the history of social movements and trade union activism

Autorentext

Jesper Jørgensen is an Archivist and Researcher at the Workers' Museum and the Labour Movement's Library and Archives in Denmark. Previously, he studied History and Anthropology at Aarhus University, Denmark. He has recently published on topics like Danish left-wing activism, clandestine communist activities in Scandinavia and the impact of the October Revolution in Denmark.

Flemming Mikkelsen holds a Doctorate in Political Science and a MA in History from the University of Copenhagen. He is an independent researcher working in the fields of social movements, labour activism, ethnic relations and historical sociology, and has published several books and articles on these topics, including Popular Struggle and Democracy in Scandinavia, 1700-Present (Palgrave, 2018). Flemming Mikkelsen has studied and taught at the University of Copenhagen, University of Michigan, Aarhus University and Aalborg University.

Inhalt
Chapter 1: Trade Union Activism in the Nordic Countries: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Labor Market Struggles and Labor Market Relations in the Nordic Countries, 1848-2020: Trends and Fluctuations .- PART I: National And Local Trade Union Activism, 1900-1939.- Chapter 3: The Norwegian Experience: Trade Union Opposition and Local Activism, 1900-1939.- Chapter 4: Syndicalism and Strikes in Denmark, 1917-1920: The Syndicalist Challenge to Social Democratic Trade Union Leadership.- Chapter 5: Trade Unions, the Social Democratic Party and Labor Market Conflicts in Malmö, 1890-1910.- Chapter 6: Anti-Strikebreaker Protests and Collective Violence in Sweden, 1918-1939.- PART II: National And Local Trade Union Activism, 1940-2020 .- Chapter 7: Social Movement Unionism in Denmark, 1940-1985.- Chapter 8: Mass Labor Protest and Trade Union Activism in Early Post War Copenhagen.- Chapter 9: Reluctant Vanguard? The Strikes of Finnish Building Workers' Unions, 1949-1973.- Chapter 10: The Peak Strike Period in Finland, 1970-1980: Wildcat Strikes and Income Politics.- Chapter 11: From Street Fighting Years to Seizing the Agenda. Labor Militancy Challenging the Establishment in Norway, 1976-2010.- Chapter 12: Reaching out. Oslo Construction Workers and Migrant Workers, 2004-2014.- Chapter 13: Trade Unions' Protest Cycles in Sweden, 1980-2020.- Part III: Comparative Perspective.- Chapter 14: Lockouts in Scandinavia, c. 1900-1938.- Chapter 15: Wildcat Strikes Between 1960 and 1973: A German-Danish Comparison .- Chapter 16: Developing Public Sector Trade Unionism in Scandinavia. From Noble Civil Servants to Militant Wage Earners .- Chapter 17: Closing the Gender Pay Gap: Global Concepts, Local Negotiations in Iceland and Sweden, 1900-1985.