Swedish Transport Workers' Union
Swedish trade union representing workers across the transport and related service industries.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
The Swedish Transport Workers' Union, known in Swedish as Svenska Transportarbetareförbundet and commonly shortened to Transport, is a Swedish trade union for employees in transport and closely related service occupations. Its membership base spans road transport, aviation support, ports, security and surveillance, vehicle-related services, distribution, towing, fuel stations, and other work connected with the movement of people, goods, and information. The union was established in Stockholm in April 1897 after separating from the Swedish Heavy and Factory Workers' Union. Charles Lindley was the principal organiser and became its first president. In 1900, the organisation affiliated with the Swedish Trade Union Confederation, placing it within Sweden's central trade-union movement and the country's collective-bargaining system. Its development has been shaped by both expansion and changes in the structure of transport work. Membership reached approximately 12,300 in 1907 before falling back. Several occupational groups subsequently separated from or joined the organisation. The Swedish Firemen's Union and Swedish Seamen's Union left in 1914. The Third Machinists' Union joined in 1923, while the Swedish Automobile Drivers' Union departed in 1924 and returned in 1927. The Port Workers' Union split away in 1972, followed by the Swedish Aviation Engineers' Union in 1974. Despite these structural changes, Transport reached a reported membership peak of 68,128 in 2005. Membership later declined, standing at 48,694 in 2019; a separate 2020 description reported approximately 57,000 members. Transport's core role is to negotiate and defend collective agreements, represent members in workplace disputes, provide advice and assistance on employment conditions, and organise workers in sectors where employment can involve irregular hours, subcontracting, occupational risks, or fragmented workplaces. The union maintains 30 local chapters around Sweden, which provide local representation and member support. Its headquarters are located on Olof Palmes gata in Stockholm, near Norra Bantorget. The union represents a diverse range of workers, including security guards, airport-security staff, parking attendants, dock and port workers, newspaper distributors, advertising distributors, automobile-towing employees, tyre-shop workers, petrol-station employees, airport loaders and mechanics, and road-transport workers. Its work is therefore broader than a conventional road-haulage union, covering a wide network of logistics, mobility, distribution, and transport-support occupations. Transport also participates in international labour cooperation through the Nordic Transport Workers' Federation, European Transport Workers' Federation, Union Network International, and International Transport Workers' Federation. Its stated motto, translated into English, is: "The collective agreement defends you if you defend the collective agreement!"
History
The Swedish Transport Workers' Union was founded in Stockholm in April 1897. It emerged from a split within the Swedish Heavy and Factory Workers' Union and was organised by Charles Lindley, who became its first president. The new union was created to give transport-related workers a dedicated organisation capable of addressing the particular employment conditions of the sector. Transport affiliated with the Swedish Trade Union Confederation in 1900. Its early membership grew to about 12,300 by 1907, although the figure subsequently declined. The union's boundaries changed repeatedly as occupational groups formed independent organisations or joined Transport. The Swedish Firemen's Union and Swedish Seamen's Union separated in 1914. In 1923, the Third Machinists' Union joined. The Swedish Automobile Drivers' Union left in 1924 but rejoined three years later, illustrating the fluid organisational structure of early transport labour representation. During the twentieth century, Transport continued to organise workers across a broad collection of occupations rather than limiting itself to one mode of transport. Its constituency included road drivers, port and dock workers, aviation employees, mechanics, distribution workers, and workers in vehicle and transport-support services. The Port Workers' Union left in 1972, and the Swedish Aviation Engineers' Union departed in 1974. These departures reduced the range of occupations formally covered by the union, but Transport continued to expand in other parts of the labour market. Membership ultimately reached a reported high of 68,128 in 2005. In the following years, membership declined, with a reported 48,694 members in 2019. A 2020 description gave a higher approximate figure of 57,000, reflecting either a different membership basis or a later organisational count. The available reference material does not explain the discrepancy. Transport operates through 30 local chapters distributed around Sweden. These chapters provide local assistance to members and help apply collective agreements in workplaces. The national headquarters are situated at Olof Palmes gata 29 in Stockholm, near Norra Bantorget and the Swedish labour movement's historic institutional centre. The union's activities are centred on collective bargaining, workplace representation, advice, and the defence of negotiated employment standards. Its motto expresses the organisation's emphasis on active membership and enforcement of collective agreements: members are expected to support the collective agreement system in order for it to protect them effectively. Transport has also maintained international links through membership or participation in the Nordic Transport Workers' Federation, European Transport Workers' Federation, Union Network International, and International Transport Workers' Federation. These relationships connect the Swedish union to regional and global labour cooperation involving transport, logistics, security, and related sectors.
- 2019
Reported membership decline
[1]Membership was reported at 48,694.
- 2017
Tommy Wreeth becomes president
[1]Tommy Wreeth is listed as becoming president of Transport.
- 2005
Reported all-time membership high
[1]Reported membership reached 68,128, the highest figure cited for the union.
- 1974
Aviation engineers' organisation separates
[1]The Swedish Aviation Engineers' Union left the organisation.
- 1972
Port Workers' Union separates
[1]The Port Workers' Union left Transport and became a separate organisation.
- 1923
Third Machinists' Union joins
[1]The Third Machinists' Union became part of Transport.
- 1914
Firemen and seamen organisations separate
[1]The Swedish Firemen's Union and Swedish Seamen's Union split away from Transport.
- 1907
Early membership peak
[1]Membership reached approximately 12,300 before subsequently declining.
- 1900
Affiliation with the Swedish Trade Union Confederation
[1]Transport joined the Swedish Trade Union Confederation, integrating it into Sweden's central trade-union structure.
- 1897
Union founded in Stockholm
[1]The organisation was established in April 1897 after separating from the Swedish Heavy and Factory Workers' Union. Charles Lindley organised the new union.
Products and positioning
A sector-focused Swedish trade union that represents transport, logistics, distribution, security, aviation-support, port, vehicle-service, and related workers through collective bargaining and workplace representation.
Trade union service
Collective bargaining and collective agreements
Transport negotiates and supports collective agreements governing pay, working time, employment conditions, and other workplace standards for workers in transport and related occupations. Collective bargaining is central to the union's identity and is reflected in its motto concerning the defence of negotiated agreements.
Trade union service
Workplace representation
Through its national organisation and 30 local chapters, the union represents members in dealings with employers and provides assistance in workplace matters. Its representation covers road transport, aviation support, ports, security, distribution, towing, vehicle services, and other transport-related work.
Member service
Member advice and assistance
The union provides member-oriented support associated with employment conditions and workplace representation. The reference material identifies local chapters as an important mechanism for assisting members across Sweden, although it does not enumerate individual advice products or benefit schemes.
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