Swedish Match Faces Multi-Million Lawsuit Over Unpaid Wages

Swedish Match's snus factory in Gothenburg is threatened with a multi-million kronor payment after the union took the company to the Labor Court. According to the union, hundreds of workers have not received shift allowances for eight years.

– When an agreement is made, it should be followed, says the union's lawyer Henric Ask.

Over a hundred workers on the factory's evening and night shifts have not received the shift compensation they are entitled to under the collective agreement, according to the Food Workers' Union.

The union claims that Swedish Match has violated the collective agreement for eight years, from 2016 to 2024, and wants the workers to receive their compensation retroactively.

– It's not good if you don't follow what has been agreed upon, says the union's lawyer Henric Ask.

Despite negotiations between the union and the employer at both local and central levels, they have not reached a solution.

– Both sides have tried to be constructive. But sometimes it just doesn't work.

Demanding Millions in Court

Therefore, the union has now taken the case to the Labor Court, suing Swedish Match for millions for the compensation they claim the workers have missed. In addition, they are demanding damages of 25,000 kronor per employee and 150,000 kronor for breach of the collective agreement.

If the union gets its way, the snus giant could be forced to pay over 3.5 million kronor in total. The Food Workers' Union's lawyer Henric Ask believes this is reasonable.

– When an agreement is made, it should be followed.

The Labor Court's hearing on the matter is expected to start in the middle of next year, according to Henric Ask.

Swedish Match: Yet to Review Documents

Swedish Match's communications manager Robert Noord writes in a comment to Expressen that they have not yet seen the lawsuit from the union.

“We will comment once we have reviewed it,” he writes.

Swedish Match is the world's largest snus manufacturer with several popular brands such as Ettan, General, and Göteborgs Rapé. In recent years, the company's white, tobacco-free nicotine pouches under the name Zyn have been a huge success, particularly in the USA.

The Gothenburg factory is Swedish Match's largest facility for snus production.