Icebreaker personnel move to a new collective bargaining agreement
News 2026-01-30
Following Saco’s termination of a supplementary collective agreement, approximately 90 icebreaker crew members will move to a different collective bargaining agreement. Icebreaking operations will continue as normal, although there is an increased risk of disruptions.
Our responsibility to break ice in fairways and keep ports open remains unchanged, and operations will continue as normal. However, if we experience a particularly harsh winter, there is an increased risk of staff shortages, as the new agreement – the standard collective bargaining agreement – requires more personnel. Weather conditions are, of course, difficult to predict, and we are doing what we can to address potential staffing gaps through additional personnel and overtime.
Some aspects of the agreement are also less favourable for employees compared with the previous arrangements. For example, all affected employees will now work two weeks on board followed by two weeks off. Previously, there was greater flexibility to arrange alternative schedules. There will also be some changes to additional compensation for on-call duties. In total, just over 200 people work in icebreaking operations, meaning slightly fewer than half will be affected by the new agreement.
Negotiations on a new supplementary agreement have been ongoing for three years without reaching a conclusion. A mutually agreed draft agreement was ready in the summer of 2025, but Saco subsequently withdrew its support. The Swedish Maritime Administration remains willing to continue negotiations with the aim of reaching an agreement that benefits both operations and employees, while also ensuring fairness towards other employee groups.
