Union to Union

What Union to Union does

Union to Union is a Stockholm-based Swedish non-profit organization that serves as the coordinating body for international trade union development cooperation on behalf of Sweden's three principal trade union confederations: LO (Landsorganisationen i Sverige), TCO (Tjänstemännens Centralorganisation), and Saco (Sveriges Akademikers Centralorganisation), together with their member unions representing more than 3.5 million members. Through Union to Union, the Swedish union movement supports approximately one hundred trade union development projects in roughly one hundred countries, focusing on capacity building, training, advocacy for workers' rights, democracy, equality, and sustainable development in low- and middle-income economies. The organization also engages in solidarity work in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, including Ukraine, Lebanon, and Belarus, often in partnership with global union federations such as ITUC, BWI, IndustriAll, ITF, IUF, PSI, UNI, IFJ, and FIM.

The organization's business model is that of a publicly funded development cooperation entity. Revenue is not generated through commercial sales; instead, Union to Union operates on multi-year framework agreements with Sida (Styrelsen för internationellt utvecklingssamarbete), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, with a new three-year agreement confirmed in 2025. Project delivery is conducted through partnerships with global union federations and direct cooperation with trade unions in recipient countries, rather than through proprietary technology platforms. The organization maintains a small headquarters staff of 13 employees, a website, and channels on LinkedIn and Instagram used for content distribution and advocacy.

Union to Union has no digital product surface, API, or proprietary technology stack. Its offerings are informational resources, reports, project coordination, and training materials. Governance is provided by a board chaired by Heike Erkers (Ordförande, Akademikerförbundet SSR); the General Secretary role has been held by Maria Nyberg since January 2021, with Lennart Reinius referenced in one source as Acting General Secretary (Tillf\xf6rordnad generalsekreterare) and Program Director, suggesting recent leadership transition. The organization is privately incorporated as a non-profit in Sweden, has no parent company or subsidiaries, and is not publicly traded.

Name

Union to Union

Legal name

Union to Union

Website

https://uniontounion.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Union to Union is a Stockholm-based Swedish non-profit that coordinates international trade union development cooperation on behalf of LO, TCO, and Saco, supporting approximately 100 projects in 100 countries through Sida framework funding and partnerships with global union federations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Cooperation

NAICS

Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations (813930), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Labor, Social Protection & Occupational Safety Standards Cooperation (BPADANAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Inclusive Trade (Gender, Youth, Marginalized Groups) (BPADAMAM)

Keywords

• Trade union development cooperation
• International workers rights
• Capacity building programs
• Development project funding
• International labor solidarity

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockholm

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Union to Union coordinates Swedish trade union development cooperation on behalf of LO, TCO, Saco and their member unions, supporting approximately one hundred trade union development projects in as many countries worldwide. Its offerings include development project funding and coordination, capacity-building training, informational reports and brochures, advocacy for workers' rights, democracy, equality, and sustainable development, as well as seminars and partner support materials for trade unions in low- and middle-income countries.

Product overview

Union to Union is a Swedish trade union development cooperation organization that coordinates LO, TCO, Saco and their member unions in international development work. The organization supports approximately a hundred trade union development projects across multiple countries globally. Its offerings consist of informational resources, reports, development project coordination, and training materials related to trade union solidarity and workers' rights worldwide. No distinct product modules, platforms, or named digital offerings were identified in the source data.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Trade Union Development Project Coordination End-to-end coordination of trade union development projects across approximately 100 countries, including funding channeling from Sida and Swedish confederations, partner support, and program oversight for trade unions in low- and middle-income countries.
• Capacity Building and Training Programs Training programs, seminars, and capacity-building support designed for trade unions and workers' organizations in developing countries to strengthen organizational capability, advocacy skills, and collective bargaining capacity.
• Reports, Publications, and Informational Resources Free informational reports, brochures, and publications (e.g., reports on Ukraine reconstruction, climate and trade union issues, journalists' rights) available in Swedish, English, and Spanish for trade union partners, journalists, and the public.
• Partner Development Project Tools Tools, materials, and guidance provided through the Partner section of the website to support Swedish and global trade union partners implementing development cooperation projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supports approximately 100 development projects in equal number of countries

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 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.

• ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022Global trade union federation representing 331 national trade union centers in 167 countries. Signed joint declaration with Union to Union on democracy, equality and sustainable development.
• BWI (Building and Woodworkers' International)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022Global union federation for construction and wood workers. Collaborates with Union to Union on development projects including Ukraine reconstruction support.
• IndustriAllcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022Global union federation representing workers in manufacturing, mining, and energy sectors. Partner in Union to Union's international development cooperation.
• ITF (International Transport Workers' Federation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022Global federation for transport workers. Cooperates with Union to Union on development projects and Ukraine support.
• IUF (International Union of Food Workers)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022Global union federation representing workers in food, hospitality, and related sectors. Partner in Union to Union's development cooperation.
• PSI (Public Services International)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022Global union federation for public sector workers. Collaborates with Union to Union on development projects.
• UNI Global UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022Global union federation for service sector workers. Works with Union to Union on development cooperation.
• LO (Landsorganisationen i Sverige)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three main Swedish trade union central organizations. LO and its member unions provide funding and expertise for development cooperation projects through Union to Union.
• TCO (Tjänstemännens Centralorganisation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three main Swedish trade union central organizations representing salaried workers. TCO and its member unions participate in Union to Union's development cooperation.
• Saco (Sveriges Akademikers Centralorganisation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three main Swedish trade union central organizations representing academics and professionals. Saco and its member unions contribute to Union to Union's international work.
• IFJ (International Federation of Journalists)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal federation of journalists' unions. Cooperates with Union to Union on journalists' rights and safety projects.
• FIM (International Federation of Musicians)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal federation of musicians' unions. Partner in Union to Union's international solidarity work.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• LO/FTF Council (Denmark) / Dansk Trade Union Development Cooperation (DUTDC): Danish trade union development cooperation body funded under Danida that channels LO/FTF resources to trade union development projects abroad. Closely mirrors Union to Union's role, scope and funder structure.
• Norwegian Trade Union Cooperation / Norwegian Unions Solidarity Fund: Norwegian trade unions' international development cooperation platform funded through Norad. Operates the same model of pooling confederation resources for union-to-union capacity building in the Global South.
• We Effect: Swedish development cooperation organization linked to the cooperative movement that supports democratic organizations in 25+ countries. Comparable Swedish-headquartered peer funded by Sida with overlapping partner base in developing countries.
• Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES): German social-democratic foundation linked to the DGB trade union confederation that runs international cooperation programs in 100+ countries. Directly comparable as a nationally anchored labor-movement foundation channeling development cooperation funds to trade unions globally.
• Mondiaal FNV: Dutch trade union international solidarity organization coordinated with FNV. Comparable in function as the national union confederation's vehicle for international solidarity projects and partner capacity building.

Broad incumbents

• Solidar (network): European network of civil society organizations working on social justice, workers' rights and international solidarity. Adjacent peer working with European union confederations on similar capacity-building and advocacy themes.
• International Labour Organization (ILO): UN specialized agency setting international labor standards and supporting workers' rights globally. Comparable as a higher-level institutional actor that Union to Union-funded partners interact with and that sets the policy framework for the work.
• International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC): Global trade union confederation representing 331 national centers in 167 countries, and a direct strategic partner of Union to Union. Comparable as the umbrella recipient of capacity-building flows, though operating at global rather than national-funder level.

Emerging players

• Solidaridad: International civil society organization focused on responsible supply chains and workers' rights in agriculture, mining and textiles. Comparable as an internationally operating intermediary that channels development funding to worker organizations in the Global South.
• Hivos: Dutch international development NGO with a strong workers' rights and civic space portfolio. Comparable as a Netherlands-headquartered intermediary that channels government and private funds to civil society and union partners in developing countries.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/union-to-union
• Instagraminstagram.com/uniontounion

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Union to Union