View source for Farm Workers Union of Uppland

{{short description|Trade union in Sweden}}
{{Infobox union
|name         = ULF
|location_country= [[Sweden]]
|full_name    = Farm Workers' Union of Uppland
|native_name  = Upplands lantarbetareförbund
| native_name_lang = sv
|image        =
|founded      = 1 December 1918
|dissolved    = 1 January 1930
|merged       = [[Farm Workers Union of Sweden]]
|headquarters =
|key_people   = [[Oscar Sjölander]] (Chairman), [[A. E. Elmroth]] (Chairman).
|website      =
|footnotes    =
}}
The '''Farm Workers Union of Uppland''' ({{langx|sv|Upplands lantarbetareförbund}}, abbreviated '''ULF''') was a [[trade union]] for agricultural workers in [[Uppland]], [[Sweden]]. ULF was founded on 1 December 1918.<ref>Uppsala Universitet. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=SRdpAAAAMAAJ Studia historica Upsaliensia, Volume 32-34]''. Uppsala [etc.]: Uppsala Universitet [etc.], 1970. p. 16</ref> The union was active parallel to the [[Farm Workers Union of Sweden]] (SLF).<ref name="fana">Ståhl, Margareta. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=pJEPNAAACAAJ Vår enighets fana: ett sekel fackliga fanor]''. Stockholm: LO, 1998. p. 230</ref> In 1919, SLF and the [[Swedish Trade Union Confederation]] (LO) begin pressuring ULF to merge with SLF,<ref name="p9">Johanson, Curt. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rIBlAAAAIAAJ Lantarbetarna i Uppland, 1918-1930]''. 1970. p. 9</ref> which finally came about in 1930.
The existence of an independent union of agricultural labourers in Uppland could partly be explained by the fact that living conditions for ''[[statare]]'' were worse in Uppland than in other regions of the country.<ref name="ku">{{Cite web|url=http://www.kultur-historia.se/skordestrejken.html|title = Historia|website=www.kultur-historia.se}}</ref> The Uppland plains north of [[Mälaren]] were completely dominated by estates of large landowners.<ref name="p15">Johanson, Curt. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rIBlAAAAIAAJ Lantarbetarna i Uppland, 1918-1930]''. 1970. p. 15</ref> During the early 1920s, Uppland had the highest percentage of union organizing amongst agricultural labourers in Sweden.<ref>Johanson, Curt. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rIBlAAAAIAAJ Lantarbetarna i Uppland, 1918-1930]''. 1970. p. 113</ref>
==History==
===Sjölander, the agitator===
The ULF leader was Oscar Sjölander, a teacher in [[Kungsängen]] and a member of parliament of the [[Swedish Social Democratic Party|Social Democratic Labour Party]].<ref name="ku"/><ref name="nath">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ukforsk.se/subjects/Soderblom-bakgrund.htm|title = Orsaken till Natha Söderbloms visitation i Kungsängen 1926}}</ref><ref name="an">{{Cite web |url=http://www.antikvariat.net/ROD91465.cgi |title=Antikvariat.net - Skogs och Lantarbetet |access-date=2011-01-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720100519/http://www.antikvariat.net/ROD91465.cgi |archive-date=2011-07-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He had conducted agitations and farm worker organizing in the area from 1914 and onwards.<ref>Johanson, Curt. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rIBlAAAAIAAJ Lantarbetarna i Uppland, 1918-1930]''. 1970. p. 22</ref> He founded three [[arbetarekommun|labour communes]] in southern Uppland (Bro, Lossa and Kungsängen). He sought assistance from the national headquarters of the Social Democratic Labour Party, LO and SLF for his organizing endeavours in southern Uppland; but received no help from neither of them. LO was reluctant to support an organizing drive in the predominantly rural Uppland, preferring to give assistance to organizing of agricultural workers in areas surrounding major industrial centres.<ref>Johanson, Curt. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rIBlAAAAIAAJ Lantarbetarna i Uppland, 1918-1930]''. 1970. pp. 48-49</ref> Sjölander spent six weeks of his summer holidays in 1918, agitating amongst agricultural labourers. As a result, the [[Bro, Stockholm|Bro Härad]] Farm Workers Trade Union was founded.<ref>Johanson, Curt. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rIBlAAAAIAAJ Lantarbetarna i Uppland, 1918-1930]''. 1970. p. 52</ref> Bro Härad would remain the key stronghold of ULF throughout its existence.<ref name="p15"/> The union was reorganized as ULF at its second meeting held December 1918.<ref name="p53">Johanson, Curt. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rIBlAAAAIAAJ Lantarbetarna i Uppland, 1918-1930]''. 1970. pp. 53-54</ref>
===Relations to SLF===
The initial intent of ULF might have been to join SLF, but differences over tactics during a major ULF harvest [[strike action|strike]] in the summer of 1919 closed the space for unification between ULF and SLF. The SLF leadership, in particular its chairman Albin Hansson, was more cautious regarding strike tactics than ULF.<ref name="sun"/><ref>Johanson, Curt. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rIBlAAAAIAAJ Lantarbetarna i Uppland, 1918-1930]''. 1970. pp. 63-67</ref>
ULF was met with criticism not only from the estate owners but also from the Social Democratic press, SLF and the [[Swedish Trade Union Confederation]] (LO).<ref name="p28">Johanson, Curt. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rIBlAAAAIAAJ Lantarbetarna i Uppland, 1918-1930]''. 1970. p. 28</ref> The only press outlet that defended ULF was the Social Democratic newspaper ''Uplands Folkblad'' (partially financed by ULF).<ref name="p28"/>
===1919 harvest strike===
In April 1919 ULF had demanded a 30% raise of wages for farm workers. The demand was rejected by the regional employers organization. At a meeting in Kungsängen on 4 May, delegates of the ULF branches called for militant actions against the estate owners. Sjölander did however caution the delegates, arguing that the newly founded union lacked the financial means to mobilize a prolonged strike.<ref name="p53"/> He drafted a proposal for a new treaty, calling for raising the salary to 1000 [[Swedish krona]]<!-- per year I suppose -->. The employers did however decline negotiation with ULF between May and July 1918.<ref name="p55">Johanson, Curt. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rIBlAAAAIAAJ Lantarbetarna i Uppland, 1918-1930]''. 1970. p. 55</ref>
Spontaneous strikes broke out amongst farm workers in Veckholm and Ekerö, without the approval of ULF. Following the start of the Veckholm strike, Sjölander offer to discuss modifications to the draft treaty with the employers, but the employers again declined to negotiate with him. A ULF conference was assembled, and decided to initiate a strike starting 29 July 1919.<ref name="p56">Johanson, Curt. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rIBlAAAAIAAJ Lantarbetarna i Uppland, 1918-1930]''. 1970. pp. 56-57</ref> Non-socialist newspapers decried the demands of ULF. For example, ''[[Dagens Nyheter]]'' claimed that '[[Bolshevik]] tendencies' could be found amongst the farm labourers.<ref name="p60"/> During the strike actions were coordinated between ULF and SLF branches in nearby areas (in spite of resistance from the national SLF leadership), paving the way for workers' victory in the dispute.<ref name="sun">Sundell, Åke. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=5OzSAAAAIAAJ Patriarkalism och föreningsrätt: om produktion och facklig kamp inom handelsträdgårdsnäringen i Malmö med omnejd fram till 1936]''. Lund: Lund University Press, 1997. p. 12</ref><ref name="p62"/> The strike lasted for a week. The estate owners were unable to recruit scabs to save the harvest, and thus no violent incidents occurred at the picket lines. Under pressure from the public opinion (as voiced through Stockholm newspapers), wary of food shortages as a result of the strike, the national government instituted a negotiating commission.<ref name="p60"/> The Uppland estate owners association caved in to pressure from the government commission, and eventually accepted raising the salary of a ''körkarl'' from around 600 krona to 900 krona. ULF on its part had been forced to accept the continuation of individual employment contracts.<ref name="p62">Johanson, Curt. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rIBlAAAAIAAJ Lantarbetarna i Uppland, 1918-1930]''. 1970. pp. 62-63</ref>
At the time of the 1919 strike, ULF had around 4,000 members (out of a total of around 20,000 farm workers in Uppland). Another 2,000 organized farm workers also took part in the strike.<ref name="p60">Johanson, Curt. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rIBlAAAAIAAJ Lantarbetarna i Uppland, 1918-1930]''. 1970. pp. 60-61</ref> ULF membership began to decline after the strike, as many labourers felt union membership was superfluous as their demands had already been met.<ref>Johanson, Curt. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rIBlAAAAIAAJ Lantarbetarna i Uppland, 1918-1930]''. 1970. p. 111</ref>
===December 1919 conference===
ULF held a conference in [[Uppsala]] on 7 December 1919. The national LO leadership was represented at the conference (including [[Arvid Thorberg]]) as well the leftwing socialist-dominated SLF districts of [[Närke]] and [[Södermanland]] and the dissident farm workers union in Västmanland-Dalarna (Forest and Farm Workers Union of Central Sweden).<ref>Johanson, Curt. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rIBlAAAAIAAJ Lantarbetarna i Uppland, 1918-1930]''. 1970. pp. 70-71</ref><ref>Back, Pär-Erik. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=pjdxAAAAIAAJ En klass i uppbrott; den fackliga lantarbetarrörelsens uppkomst och utveckling]''. Stockholm: Svenska lantarbetareförbundet, 1961. p. 130</ref> At the conference a 'Cooperation Committee' of farm workers was formed, with representatives from Uppland, Sörmland, Närke, Dalarna and Västmanland.<ref name="p77">Johanson, Curt. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rIBlAAAAIAAJ Lantarbetarna i Uppland, 1918-1930]''. 1970. p. 77</ref> Criticism from LO and the Social Democratic Party against ULF was stepped up following the December 1919 conference. Sharp attacks against Sjölander's reluctance to merge with SLF were published in ''[[Social-Demokraten]]''.<ref>Johanson, Curt. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rIBlAAAAIAAJ Lantarbetarna i Uppland, 1918-1930]''. 1970. p. 72</ref> The decision to form a Cooperation Committee parallel to SLF and with participation of SLF branches was lambasted as a move to divide the farm workers movement.<ref name="p77"/>
The Cooperation Committee organized a national farm workers' conference in Stockholm on 29 February 1920. Apart from the 157 delegates of the constituent organizations there were also two delegates from [[Östergötland]] present. The national SLF leadership also reluctantly participated, in order to argue against the proposals of Sjölander. The conference proposed instituting a tripartite commission (consisting of SLF, ULF and the Forest and Farm Workers Union of Central Sweden) to oversee a merger of the different unions. The key debate at the conference was the issue of tactics. Sjölander's position prevailed (with 77 votes against 11), calling for the abolition of local bargaining agreements.<ref>Johanson, Curt. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rIBlAAAAIAAJ Lantarbetarna i Uppland, 1918-1930]''. 1970. p. 80</ref> The tripartite commission never became effective.<ref name="p81">Johanson, Curt. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rIBlAAAAIAAJ Lantarbetarna i Uppland, 1918-1930]''. 1970. p. 81</ref>
===Strikes of 1924 and 1925===
ULF did not participate in the 1924 strike mobilized by SLF.<ref name="uk"/> However, in 1925 ULF organized a major harvest strike of its own, with epicentre in [[Kungsängen]].<ref name="nath"/><ref name="uk"/> Sjölander emerged as the main leader of the strike. But whilst Sjölander had urged his followers to desist from violence, clashes erupted between striking labourers and [[Strikebreaker|scabs]] (brought in from [[Stockholm]]). In Bro scabs were forced to flee head over heels, in fights that resulted in jail terms for striking labourers.<ref name="uk"/> The outcome of the strike eventually resulted in a backlash for ULF and Sjölander, was they were unable to achieve a favourable bargaining deal. The 1925 strike figures in several literary works, such as the novel ''En natt i juli'' by [[Jan Fridegård]] and the novel collection ''Statarna'' by [[Ivar Lo-Johansson]].<ref name="ku"/><ref name="uk"/> ''En natt i juli'' was made into a movie in 1946, titled ''När ängarna blomma''.<ref name="ku"/>
===Unification===
Sjölander died in 1928.<ref name="nath"/> A. E. Elmroth became the new ULF chairman.<ref>Johanson, Curt. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rIBlAAAAIAAJ Lantarbetarna i Uppland, 1918-1930]''. 1970. p. 354</ref> Sjölander's nemesis in the farm workers movement, Hansson, died in 1929. After the passing of Sjölander and Hansson, venues for reconciliation between ULF and SLF were opened.<ref name="p81"/> ULF merged into SLF on 1 January 1930.<ref name="p9"/><ref name="lant">Thörnquist, Annette. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=3k8yAAAAIAAJ Lönearbete eller egen jord?: den svenska lantarbetarrörelsen och jordfrågan 1908-1936 = &#91;Wages or land?&#93; : &#91;the Swedish rural labor movement and the land question 1908-1936&#93;]''. Studia historica Upsaliensia, 157. Uppsala: Univ, 1989. p. 22</ref> As of 1929 ULF had 2,236 members (as compared to 6,678 members in SLF).<ref>Johanson, Curt. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rIBlAAAAIAAJ Lantarbetarna i Uppland, 1918-1930]''. 1970. p. 110</ref>
==Organization==
===Geographic scope===
ULF sections were generally found in parishes with large land estates.<ref name="geo"/> As of 1920 ULF claimed to have organizers in [[Gimo, Sweden|Gimo]], [[Trögd]], [[Lidingö]], [[Rimbo]], [[Ekerö]], [[Munsö]] and at the border with [[Västmanland]].<ref name="p53"/> The key areas of ULF activities were located just north of Mälaren, Bro, [[Håbo]], Trögd and Åsunda. On the islands in Mälaren (such as [[Adelsö]], Munsö, Ekerö, Svartsjölandet and Lovö) ULF had a fairly strong presence. The organization also had a well-organized following in the Baltic Sea archipelago, several branches were established on [[Värmdö Municipality|Värmdö]].<ref name="geo"/>
ULF branches were also found of the southern shore of Mälaren, in northern and western Salem, Västertälje, Botkyrka, Huddinge and Brännkyrka. In 1921 ULF expanded its scope of activity to [[Södertörn]] (since the estate owners of Södertörn were already organized in the Uppland regional organization), with nine branches joining the organization. Fierce competition over influence in Södertörn erupted between SLF and ULF, but ULF eventually established itself as the dominant force there (as of 1930 ULF had branches in all parishes of Södertörn except Vårdinge).<ref name="geo">Johanson, Curt. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rIBlAAAAIAAJ Lantarbetarna i Uppland, 1918-1930]''. 1970. pp. 115-117</ref>
In the Uppsala plains, Bondkyrka had the strongest ULF section (with 72 members in 1925). The section was active in nine parishes.<ref name="geo"/> In eastern Uppland, ULF organizing met with stiff resistance. The company Gimo-Österbruk AB owned large shares of the lands there.<ref name="geo"/>
The weakest point of ULF in Uppland was [[Roslagen]], the plains around Rimbo and [[Norrtälje]]. The organization was somewhat stronger in the northernmost parts of the county, in plains around [[Tierp]] and [[Forsmark]].<ref name="geo"/>
In [[Stockholms län]], there were 28 parishes (out of a total of 97) were ULF (probably) never had any organizational presence between 1918 and 1929. In [[Uppsala län]], 14 out of 85 parishes had seemingly been untouched by ULF organizing. In Stockholms län 13 section of ULF were closed down prior to 1925, and in Uppsala län seven ULF sections had been disbanded prior to 1925.<ref name="geo"/>
===Publication===
ULF published the fortnightly newspaper ''Skogs och lantarbetet'' between 1921 and 1929.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://libris.kb.se/bib/3233048?vw=full|title=LIBRIS - Skogs och lantarbetet}}</ref> Sjölander served as its editor, and was a prolific contributor to the newspaper.<ref name="ku"/><ref name="an"/><ref name="uk">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ukforsk.se/subjects/Sjolander-bok0.htm|title = Oscar Sjölander - Upplands-Bro-bor med historia}}</ref>
===Educational and cultural activism===
ULF worked closely together with the [[Arbetarnas bildningsförbund|Workers Educational Association]] (ABF), setting up mobile libraries for agricultural labourers at farms in the country-side.<ref>Furuland, Lars. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=C4rtAAAAMAAJ Statarnas ombudsman i dikten: en bok om Ivar Lo-Johansson]''. Stockholm: LT i samarbete med Svenska lantarbetareförb, 1976. p. 184</ref><ref>Furuland, Lars. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=S2jtAAAAMAAJ Statarna i litteraturen; en studie i svensk dikt och samhällsdebatt]''. Stockholm: Tidens förlag, 1962. p. 202</ref>
==References==
{{Portal|Organized labour}}
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Trade unions in Sweden]]
[[Category:1918 establishments in Sweden]]
[[Category:1930 disestablishments in Sweden]]
[[Category:Agriculture and forestry trade unions]]
[[Category:Trade unions established in 1918]]
[[Category:Agricultural organizations based in Sweden]]
[[Category:Uppland]]
[[Category:Trade unions disestablished in 1930]]