"Swedish Dockworkers Union Condemns Employer Retaliation in Relation to Legally-Sanctioned Boycott of Military Cargo to and from Israel", 15 February 2025

The Swedish Dockworkers Union (SDU) condemns in the strongest terms the trade union victimisation of SDU spokesperson and national deputy chair Erik Helgeson. Erik’s firing came about on the same day as a ruling by the labour courts authorising the union to proceed with its planned six-day boycott of military cargo to and from Israel.

In December 2024, the national membership of the Swedish Dockworkers Union voted 68% in favour of launching a boycott of military cargo to and from Israel in response to the devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza... On February 3, the union had a victory in the courts when the justices issued a unanimous preliminary ruling permitting the union to begin a six-day boycott of military cargo to and from Israeli. The blockade subsequently began on February 4, lasting for six days.

The favourable ruling from the courts, however, came about the same day as employers moved forward with retaliatory measures that had been set in place the previous week...

On the morning of Monday February 3, Erik reported to the meeting accompanied in person by union reps and remotely by the union’s legal council. At the meeting, the employer read a prepared statement informing Erik that he was being fired due a breach of security and disloyalty. The employer refused to answer any questions about the charges in the meeting, leaving the union in the dark as to nature of the accusations. However, the employer stated that they had filed a police report against Erik in connection with the charges, though they declined to share the report they had filed...

Nevertheless, by Tuesday February 4, the police had made it clear to the public that they were not pursuing charges and that Erik did not have a case to answer for. The police stated that it was obvious that Erik’s statements about the boycott were covered by the legal protections afforded to all citizens in talking to the media – but that even if it wasn’t explicitly covered by law, it still would not be a crime.

On February 21, the union and employer will meet for formal negotiations over Erik’s dismissal. The employer is required to present full details of the charges against Erik in this meeting...