Erik Helgeson is Deputy National Chair of the Swedish Dock Workers’ Union. A militant union organizer, he was dismissed from his port job following his active participation in blockades against ships belonging to Russian and Israeli shipping companies.
In Sweden, workers boycotted Russian ships in response to the invasion of Ukraine, and then did the same for Israel’s arms trade. Their action shows the power of working-class solidarity against militarism.
The Swedish Dockworkers Union has announced plans for indefinite strike action. The future of independent, left-wing, rank-and-file trade unionism in Sweden hangs in the balance.