GS - Facket för skogs-, trä och grafisk bransch

What GS - Facket för skogs-, trä och grafisk bransch does

GS - Facket för skogs-, trä och grafisk bransch is a Swedish blue-collar trade union (Fackförbund) representing workers in three industry verticals: forestry (skogsavtalet), wood and sawmill manufacturing (träindustriavtalet, sågverksavtalet), and graphic/print media (tidningsavtalet, grafisk bransch). The union operates as a non-profit membership organization (Org.nr 802005-1218) and is an affiliated member of LO (Landsorganisationen i Sverige) and a founding member of the Facken inom Industrin coalition alongside IF Metall, Livs, Sveriges Ingenjörer, and Unionen. GS delivers services through eight regional departments (Avdelning 1-8) covering all of Sweden, with its national office headquartered at Folkets Hus in Stockholm. Its core function is sector-specific collective bargaining, with counterpart employer organizations including Gröna Arbetsgivare, TMF/Gröna Arbetsgivare, and Grafiska Företagen.

GS's product set is service-oriented rather than technology-oriented. Core offerings include collective agreement negotiation (Avtalsrörelsen), GS a-kassa unemployment insurance, LO Mervärde member benefits, legal advice and workplace representation, occupational health advocacy (including Centralfonden-funded projects), retraining support (Omställningsstudiestöd), union education, and political advocacy coordinated with the Social Democrats. Digital touchpoints consist of the gsfacket.se website, the Mina Sidor member portal, the Studio GS podcast, and the Trähusrapporten annual publication. Member dues, collected as a percentage of income, constitute the union's primary funding mechanism, supplemented by LO-coordinated funding. The union's headcount is referenced as approximately 100,000+ members historically, though documented declines include roughly half lost during the prior chairperson's tenure and ~25% lost on the wood industry agreement since 2022 due to the Swedish construction crisis.

Governance is exercised through a Kongress held every four years (most recently May 2026 in Umeå) and twice-yearly Fackbundsmöten. In May 2026, Madelene Engman succeeded Per-Olof Sjöö as fackförbundsordförande, and the Executive Committee was expanded from three to four members. Notable recent operational events include a November 2024 cyberattack triggering an IMY data-breach notification and an ongoing police investigation, the union's February 2025 decision to leave the X (Twitter) platform as a political stance, and a lawsuit filed against sawmill operator Vida for alleged collective agreement violations.

Name

GS - Facket för skogs-, trä och grafisk bransch

Legal name

GS- Fackförbundet för skogs,- trä,- och grafisk bransch

Website

https://gsfacket.se

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

GS-facket is a Swedish trade union representing workers in forestry, wood/sawmill, and graphic industries through sector-specific collective bargaining, member services, and advocacy, operating as a member of LO and the Facken inom Industrin coalition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockholm

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Member dues: GS-facket is funded through membership fees (medlemsavgifter) paid by its members. Workers in the forest, wood, and graphic industries pay to join the union in exchange for collective bargaining representation, negotiation support, legal advice, insurance coverage, and other member benefits. The union also receives part of LO's collective funding mechanisms.

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

GS-facket is a Swedish trade union providing collective bargaining, workplace representation, legal advice, unemployment insurance (GS a-kassa), occupational health and safety advocacy, insurance coverage, and member education services to workers in the forestry, wood, and graphic industries. The union negotiates sector-specific collective agreements (skogsavtalet, sågverksavtalet, träavtalet, tidningsavtalet) and delivers member services through 8 regional departments across Sweden.

Product overview

GS - Facket för skogs-, trä och grafisk bransch is a Swedish trade union offering membership services for workers in forestry, wood, and graphic industries. The union provides core services including collective agreement negotiations (Avtalsrörelsen), unemployment insurance (GS a-kassa), and member advice/support. Digital offerings include the 'Mina Sidor' member portal, the Studio GS podcast, and the annual Trähusrapporten research publication. Additional services include LO Mervärde member benefits, union education programs, student membership, and the Försäkringstidningen insurance magazine. The union is part of LO (Landsorganisationen) and represents workers through eight regional departments across Sweden.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GS a-kassa (Unemployment Insurance) Unemployment insurance fund specifically for GS-facket union members, providing financial protection during job loss. Operated as a closely integrated service through gsakassa.se.
• GS Membership (Medlemskap) Core membership for workers in forestry, wood, and graphic industries, providing collective bargaining representation, legal advice, insurance coverage, occupational health and safety advocacy, retraining support, and union education.
• Elevmedlemskap (Student Membership) Reduced-fee membership category for students in secondary vocational education programs within GS industries (forestry, wood, or graphic trades), providing early career support and union rights education.
• Pensionärsmedlemskap (Retired Member Membership) Dedicated membership tier for retired workers who previously worked in GS-covered industries, maintaining their connection to the union and access to certain benefits.
• Säsongsmedlemskap (Seasonal Membership) Seasonal membership category for workers employed only part of the year in GS industries, accommodating the variable income and lack of year-round employment security in seasonal forestry or wood industry work.
• Avtalsrörelsen (Collective Agreement Negotiations) Core collective bargaining process where GS-facket and employer organizations negotiate terms including wages, working conditions, and benefits. Covers sector-specific agreements (skogsavtalet, sågverksavtalet, träavtalet, tidningsavtalet). Most recent agreements delivered 6.4% wage increases over two years.
• Fackliga utbildningar (Union Education) Training programs providing knowledge and skills for members and elected representatives to defend rights and improve working conditions. Includes the Framtidsakademin (Future Academy) program that trains young members for union leadership.
• LO Mervärde (Member Benefits Program) Exclusive member benefit program offering discounted products and services from various partners to GS union members, accessed through the LO Mervärde platform as part of the LO-wide program.
• Försäkringstidningen (Insurance Magazine) Annual publication explaining members' insurance coverage and what to do in case of accidents, including home insurance, income insurance, and occupational injury protection.

Quantifiable outcome

• GS members' wages increased an average of 3.7% in 2025, with negotiated collective agreement increases of 6.4% over two years (3.4% year 1, 3.0% year 2) through the Industry Agreement
• +4 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• LO (Landsorganisationen i Sverige)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGS-facket is a member union of LO, Sweden's largest confederation of blue-collar trade unions with 13 affiliated unions. Through LO, GS participates in coordinated collective bargaining strategies, political advocacy with the Social Democratic Party, and shared member benefit programs including LO Mervärde. LO coordinates national wage policy and represents union interests in national economic and labor policy debates.
• Facken inom Industrin (Industry Unions)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGS is a founding member of Facken inom Industrin, a coalition of five Swedish industry trade unions: GS, IF Metall, Livsmedelsarbetareförbundet (Livs), Sveriges Ingenjörer, and Unionen. The coalition coordinates wage bargaining in the industri sector, presenting joint demands and negotiating agreements that set the national 'märket' (wage norm) for the entire Swedish labor market. GS participates in the coalition's annual negotiation cycles, most recently securing 6.4% wage increases over two years.
• TMF (Trä- och Möbelföretagen / now Gröna Arbetsgivare)coreOthersTMF (now part of Gröna Arbetsgivare under Almega/Svenskt Näringsliv) is the primary employer organization with which GS negotiates collective agreements for the wood and furniture manufacturing sectors (Trä- och Stoppmöbelavtalen). GS and TMF exchange demands annually as part of the collective bargaining process (Avtalsrörelsen).
• Gröna ArbetsgivarecoreOthersGröna Arbetsgivare (under Almega/Svenskt Näringsliv) is the employer organization representing companies in the forestry, wood, and graphics sectors. GS negotiates collective agreements with Gröna Arbetsgivare for skogsavtalet (forestry agreement) and other sectors, including wage increases and working condition improvements.
• Grafiska FöretagencoreOthersGrafiska Företagen (part of Almega/Svenskt Näringsliv) is the employer organization for the graphic/media industry. GS negotiates the Tidningsavtalet (Newspaper Agreement) with Grafiska Företagen, most recently reaching a two-year agreement in April 2025 covering wages and working conditions for printing industry workers.
• Centralfonden (The Central Fund)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentralfonden is a foundation established in the 1950s by trade unions, employers, and the government to create conditions for sustainable working life in forestry and forest industry. GS has two representatives on Centralfonden's board. The fund finances workplace health, safety, and rehabilitation projects — clubs and elected representatives on forest, timber measurement, or sawmill agreements can apply for funding (matched 50/50 with employers) for health-promoting projects, safety equipment, and rehabilitation treatments.
• SYN (Skogsbrukets Yrkesnämnd)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSYN (Skogsbrukets yrkesnämnd) is a bipartite industry body for the practical forestry sector, consisting of GS-facket, employer organizations, industry bodies, and the Swedish Forest Agency (Skogsstyrelsen). SYN promotes better work environments and competency development in forestry. SYN has developed digital equality training for young forestry workers, financed by Centralfonden.
• Socialdemokraterna (The Social Democratic Party)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerGS maintains a formal political cooperation (facklig-politisk samverkan) with the Social Democratic Party (S). The union provides annual party funding (6 SEK per member per year, approximately), coordinates political advocacy, and participates in joint campaigns on issues including karensavdrag abolition, pension reform, and construction/housing policy. GS's congress and Förbundsmöte have repeatedly voted to continue the political cooperation with (S).
• FolksamminorOthersThrough LO Mervärde, GS members receive access to home insurance and other insurance products negotiated by Folksam. GS's members previously had a collective home insurance benefit through GS membership; a mistaken mailing in 2024 clarified that a separate Folksam welcome letter was redundant as GS members already had this coverage.
• BTI (Bygg- och träarbetarinternationalen)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGS-facket's former chairman Per-Olof Sjöö served as Chairman of BTI (Building and Wood Workers' International), a global union federation. Through BTI, GS participates in international labor advocacy, joint campaigns, and solidarity actions with sister unions worldwide. GS has notably supported BTI campaigns including Amazon Day awareness and union-building efforts in Brazil's forestry sector.
• FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGS-facket is a member of FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), the international forest certification system. GS participates in FSC value chain monitoring to ensure legal timber trade and worker rights compliance. GS's international ombudsman Tony Berggren has participated in FSC inspections in the Amazon region, particularly in Brazil, to ensure social and environmental standards are met in global forestry supply chains.
• Dagens Arbete (DA)majorOthersDagens Arbete is the affiliated trade union newspaper and news platform for LO and its member unions. GS works closely with DA on journalism covering forestry worker exploitation, collective bargaining outcomes, workplace safety, and industry conditions. DA's investigative reporting on forestry contractor exploitation (migrant worker abuse) has been co-published and highlighted by GS.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Handelsanställdas förbundet (Handels): Swedish commercial and retail workers' trade union and an LO affiliate. Comparable as a Swedish blue-collar LO union with similar dues-funded membership model and political alignment to the Social Democrats.
• Vision: Swedish union for local-government and municipal white-collar workers and a TCO affiliate. Comparable as a Swedish sectoral union with the same dues-funded, collective-bargaining-driven member service model.
• Seko: Swedish union for service, transport, and communication workers and an LO affiliate. Comparable as a Swedish blue-collar LO sectoral union with similar collective-bargaining and a-kassa service delivery model.
• Byggnads: Swedish construction workers' trade union and an LO affiliate. Comparable as a LO blue-collar sectoral union with strong industry overlap with GS's wood-industry constituencies and a shared construction-cycle risk profile.
• Vårdförbundet: Swedish healthcare professionals' union and a TCO affiliate. Comparable as a Swedish sectoral union negotiating collective agreements and providing member services under the Swedish collective-bargaining framework.
• Kommunal: Sweden's largest LO affiliate, representing municipal and regional public-sector workers. Comparable as a Swedish sectoral LO union with parallel dues-funded operations, a-kassa integration, and political ties to the Social Democrats.
• Sveriges Ingenjörer: Swedish engineers' trade union and a Facken inom Industrin coalition partner with GS. Comparable as an LO/TCO-adjacent union co-negotiating Sweden's industry wage norm in the same bargaining constellation.
• IF Metall: Sweden's largest industrial trade union and a co-member with GS in both LO and Facken inom Industrin. Directly comparable as a sectoral LO-affiliated union negotiating the same industry wage norm.
• Unionen: Sweden's largest white-collar union and a Facken inom Industrin coalition partner with GS. Comparable as an LO-affiliated sectoral union co-negotiating Sweden's industry wage norm.
• Livsmedelsarbetareförbundet (Livs): Swedish food-industry workers' trade union and a Facken inom Industrin coalition partner with GS. Comparable as an LO blue-collar sectoral union co-negotiating Sweden's industry wage norm across manufacturing-adjacent sectors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeopen.spotify.com/episode/1EdeUXxKyPI0htbueTmOaU?si=vKmSvRewQ0-fG1JY31BDTA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gs-facket-f%C3%B6r-skogs-tr%C3%A4-och-grafisk-bransch

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about GS - Facket för skogs-, trä och grafisk bransch