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The members’ support team is available by telephone at the following times in weeks 11 and 12 (13-24 March): Monday 9.00-11.30, Wednesday 12.30-15.00 and Friday 9.00-11.30. The quickest way to contact us is by email at radgivning@sulf.se.
SULF.se /Working in Sweden

Working in Sweden

What is SULF?

The Swedish Association of University Teachers and Researchers, SULF, is a trade union and professional association for university teachers, researchers and doctoral candidates. Our 22 000 members are our primary focus.

SULF is not politically affiliated, but that does not mean that we are apolitical. We are an organisation that dares to stand up and fight on political issues that impact our members and their interests, safeguarding the professional interests and working conditions of people working in higher education. We negotiate, inform, debate and influence the development of higher education and research. As an employee, you have the right to be a member of a trade union organisation. Employers are obliged to negotiate with us on matters concerning SULF members.

Why should you be a member of a trade union?

Members of SULF have full access to our expertise on conditions and issues specific to the higher education sector. Here are six reasons to become a member.

  1. Union support when problems arise. If you are a member of the union and, for example, are fired without a valid reason, the union can help you to get your job back. If you are not a member of the union, you must take your employer to court at your own expense.
  2. Insurance. Our collective insurances, our pension agreements, our supplementary unemployment insurance and our members-only insurance policies give members greater security, both at home and at work.
  3. Better working conditions. Members are not alone and can receive help to improve poor conditions at work.
  4. Influence in the workplace. In many matters, the employer must negotiate with the union before a decision can be made. As a member of the union, you can influence these decisions.
  5. The whole family benefits. Many of our membership benefits, such as members’ insurances, also apply to members’ homes and families
  6. Rights and benefits for all. Pensions, child benefits and the right to vote are just some of the rights and benefits that did not exist before the labour movement demanded them.

Read an interview with SULF member’s Paulina Rajkowska and David Rule and their views on why you should join a union.

The Swedish labour market model and collective agreements

u003cpu003eIn Sweden, we have a unique way of regulating the setting of salaries and employment conditions. In the Swedish model, the employersu0026#8217; organisations and the trade unions negotiate the rules and norms regarding salaries and employment conditions. The labour market is regulated by a combination of legislation, which provides the minimum level for working conditions, and collective agreements that supplement these minimums with additional and better conditions. u003ca href=u0022https://sulf.se/en/working-in-sweden/swedish-labour-market-model-and-collective-agreements/u0022u003eClick here to find out more about how the Swedish labour market works.u003c/au003eu003c/pu003en

u003cpu003eUniversity teachers, researchers, doctoral candidates and comparable staff at universities and research institutes. If you have questions concerning your possible membership, simply contact us at the SULF Membership Register. Send us an e-mail at u003ca href=u0022mailto:medlem@sulf.seu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003emedlem@sulf.seu003c/au003e or call 08-505 836 00.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.sulf.se/en/join-us/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eJoin us today!u003c/au003eu003c/pu003en

u003ch2u003eu003cstrongu003eFeesu003c/strongu003eu003c/h2u003enu003ctableu003enu003ctbodyu003enu003ctru003enu003ctd width=u0022313u0022u003eu003cstrongu003eCategoryu003c/strongu003eu003c/tdu003enu003ctd width=u0022313u0022u003eu003cstrongu003eFee/monthu003c/strongu003eu003c/tdu003enu003c/tru003enu003ctru003enu003ctd width=u0022313u0022u003eOrdinary memberu003c/tdu003enu003ctd width=u0022313u0022u003eSEK  260u003c/tdu003enu003c/tru003enu003ctru003enu003ctd width=u0022313u0022u003ePaid position as doctoral candidateu003c/tdu003enu003ctd width=u0022313u0022u003eSEK 125u003c/tdu003enu003c/tru003enu003ctru003enu003ctd width=u0022313u0022u003eRetiredu003c/tdu003enu003ctd width=u0022313u0022u003eSEK 660u003c/tdu003enu003c/tru003enu003ctru003enu003ctd width=u0022313u0022u003eu003cemu003eDual membershipu003c/emu003eu003cbr /u003enu003ca href=u0022https://sulf.se/app/uploads/2022/01/SULF_Dubbelanslutningsavgifter_2022_ny.pdfu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eSULF has dual membership agreements with18u003c/au003eu003cbr /u003enother Saco associations.u003cbr /u003enMembership fees are set by specific agreementsu003cbr /u003enbetween SULF and the relevant association.u003cbr /u003enFor more information about dual membership,u003cbr /u003enplease contact u003ca href=u0022mailto:medlem@sulf.seu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eSULFu0026#8217;s membership serviceu003c/au003eu003c/tdu003enu003ctd width=u0022313u0022u003eu003c/tdu003enu003c/tru003enu003c/tbodyu003enu003c/tableu003enu003cpu003eu003cstrongu003eFees to unemployment insurance funds are not includedu003c/strongu003e. In order to receive payments from the income insurance, you must be entitled to income-related unemployment benefits from the unemployment insurance fund. This means that you need to have been both a member of SULF and an unemployment insurance fund for at least 12 months in order to take advantage of the insurance. SULF therefore recommends that members also become members of  u003ca href=u0022https://www.akademikernasakassa.se/bli-medlem/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eAkademikernas a-kassa.u003c/au003eu003c/pu003enu003ch2u003eu003cstrongu003ePaymentu003c/strongu003eu003c/h2u003enu003cpu003eSULF respects the environment! If membership fees are paid electronically by all SULF members, this will make a difference to the environment and this is also in compliance with the union’s environmental policy. So, for the sake of the environment, please choose direct debit or e-invoice.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eAdditionally, if you choose direct debit or e-invoice, it will be easier for both you and the union. And you will avoid the paper invoice charge!u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eThere are three ways to pay membership fees: direct debit (monthly) or e-invoice (monthly or yearly) or by having a paper invoice sent to you. For paper invoices, a fee of SEK 19 is charged per invoice.u003c/pu003enu003colu003enu003cliu003eu003cstrongu003eDirect debitu003c/strongu003e means that SULF members give SULF the power of attorney to deduct membership fees monthly from their bank accounts. To sign up for a direct debit, please contact your internet bank. Select SULF as payee. If your bank requests a payment number or similar, enter your 10-digit personal registration number without hyphens. SULF fees are payable in arrears and deducted on the last banking day of each month. (The bankgiro number for autogiro payments is 772-5633. Please note that this is not the same bankgiro number as for paper invoices).u003c/liu003enu003cliu003eu003cstrongu003eE-invoiceu003c/strongu003e: If you are a customer of a bank that can receive e-invoices and have a payment service through your internet bank, you may pay your membership fees through an e-invoice. This is a simple and easy way to pay and means that the invoice is sent to your internet bank instead of sending it by regular mail. The electronic invoice contains the same information as a paper invoice. Most major banks in Sweden are affiliated. To obtain an e-invoice, log in to your internet bank and complete the registration.u003c/liu003enu003cliu003eu003cstrongu003ePaper invoiceu003c/strongu003e. You can choose to have a paper invoice posted to you for your membership fees for an entire year or one for each month. A charge pf SEK 19 is added per invoice sent.u003c/liu003enu003c/olu003enu003cpu003eFor u003cstrongu003epensioner membershipu003c/strongu003e, pay monthly by direct debit or yearly via paper or e-invoice. Paper invoices mean an additional charge of SEK 19.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003ePayment from abroad (to bankgiro number 885-9225):u003cbr /u003enIBAN number: SE15 8000 0890 1191 4326 5990u003cbr /u003enBank BIC: SWEDSESSu003cbr /u003enCurrency: SEKu003c/pu003enu003cpu003eSwedbank is SULF’s bank. State your personal registration and invoice number as payment reference. You are liable for any bank/transaction charges.u003c/pu003en

u003cpu003eSULF is the only union that is fully focussed on the academic world. You gain full access to our expertise on conditions specific to the university sector, including  membership of one of our professional sections. You help SULF to promote higher education policy issues. SULF provides security, support and guidance through its fact bank, membership helpline and support to your local Saco-S and SULF association. You gain the opportunity to influence as well as access to membership benefits. Learn u003ca href=u0022https://sulf.se/en/membership/membership/u0022u003emore about membership benefitsu003c/au003e, which also include u003ca href=u0022https://sulf.se/en/income-insurance/u0022u003eSULF income insuranceu003c/au003e.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003ePlease note that membership of the unemployment insurance fund Akademikernas a-kassa is not included. SULF recommends that you supplement your SULF membership with a u003ca href=u0022https://www.akademikernasakassa.se/enu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003emembership of Akademikernas a-kassau003c/au003e.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.sulf.se/en/join-us/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eJoin us today!u003c/au003eu003c/pu003en

u003cpu003eNo, Akademikernas a-kassa, is an independent organisation and membership requires a separate application. SULF recommends that you become member of Akademikernas a-kassa. u003ca href=u0022https://www.akademikernasakassa.se/enu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eApply for membershipu003c/au003e. The monthly fee for membership of Akademikernas a-kassa is currently SEK 130.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eFor questions about unemployment insurance, u003ca href=u0022https://www.akademikernasakassa.se/en/about-us/contact-us/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003econtact Akademikernas a-kassau003c/au003e.u003c/pu003en

u003cpu003eContact u003ca href=u0022mailto:medlem@sulf.seu0022u003emedlem@sulf.seu003c/au003e u0026#8211; we will assist you. As soon as you get your personal identity number or coordination number, let us know.u003c/pu003en

u003cpu003eThe Swedish Association of University Teachers and Researchers (SULF) respects your privacy and your right to control your personal data. This Personal Data Policy describes the aim and purposes for which we collect information, the legal basis for our processing of it, the way in which individuals can gain control over their own information and how to contact us if you have any questions or concerns about our processing of your personal data. This Personal Data Policy applies, for example, when you use our site or seek membership of the Association. SULF is the organisation responsible for your personal data in accordance with these conditions and is responsible for processing it according to current legislation. It is important that you read and understand this Personal Data Policy before, for example, applying for membership in SULF.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003eu003ca href=u0022https://sulf.se/en/personal-data/u0022u003eRead more here.u003c/au003eu003c/pu003en