Swedish Teachers´ Union – Sveriges Lärare 

We are the teachers´ union for those of you who are qualified teachers, study and vocational guidance counselors or are studying to become one of these. Welcome!

Högskola - gruppbild

Sveriges Lärare is the largest union for academics with more than 300,000 members in all sectors of the school system: for example, primary school, upper secondary school, preschool, leisure center, adult education and university.

Five popular member benefits

There are many reasons to become a member in Sveriges Lärare, five popular ones are;

  • Safety with a local representative at your workplace and the right to assistance in negotiations when needed.
  • Advice from our experts on what applies according to collective agreements and laws.
  • Income insurance and other favorable member insurances if something should happen. 
  • Salary coaching and access to the latest salary statistics when you need arguments for a salary increase. 
  • Inspiration with a guaranteed ability in our digital inspiration events and our magazine “Vi Lärare” to your homer adress.

Who can become a member?

Are you a teacher or study and career counselor? Or are you studying to become one of those? You are welcome to join!
 
We have three different memberships; professionally active teacher, student teacher and retired teacher.

Our criteria for becoming a member:

To become a professionally active member, you must have or have had employment in one of the professional roles below, in combination with a teaching qualification or relevant education.

Our entry criteria

1) You who are employed in one of the following professional roles and have a teaching degree (Swedish or foreign):
 
• Preschool teacher
• Teacher in leisure time center
• Teacher in primary school (grades 1-6)
• Teacher in Secondary school teacher (grades 7-9)
• Teacher in upper secondary school/high school
• Teacher for special needs/Special pedagogue 
• Teacher in practical/aesthetic subjects
• Subject teacher
• Teacher in adult education
• Teacher of Swedish as a second language /SFI
• Teacher within the Sami school
 
2) You who are employed as one of the following and have relevant education or training according to current regulations.
 
• Study and career counselor
• Vocational teacher/VET
• Mother tongue teacher
• Folk High school teacher
• Culture school teacher (art, dance and music)
• Drama teacher
Teacher in higher education and university
• University/college teacher
• Teacher within a vocational university of applied sciences or commissioned education
• Study association teacher
• Teacher within the Church of Sweden
• Church musician
• Doctoral student

Is your position not listed?
If you are employed and your assignment includes teaching, but your position is not listed in the list above, you may still be entitled to membership. Call and consult with us on 077-515 05 00.

You who are studying to obtain a teacher's degree can become a student teacher member.
 
You who are employed as a teacher in parallel with your basic teacher training, can choose whether you want to be a student member or a professionally active member.
 
Call us on 077-515 05 00 if you feel unsure about what is right for you.

You who have been a professional teacher or study and career counselor can become a retiree member.

You can become a professionally active member if you are currently unemployed, but meet the criteria under 'professional membership' above and intend to start working as a teacher again.

You can become a professionally active member if you currently are working in another profession, but meet the criteria under “membership as professionally active member above” and intend to start working in the teaching field.

Membership fees

Professionally-active 75 % or more: 280 SEK/month
Professionally-active 74 % or less: 140 SEK /month 
Student teacher: 0 SEK
Newly qualified first 6 months: 140 SEK/ month
PhD Student: 65 SEK/ month
Retired: 65 SEK/ month

A union of academics

You who already have or are in the process of obtaining a degree as a teacher or as a study and career counselor are welcome as a member.

Important to join the right trade union

You should choose the trade union that signs the collective agreement for your position at your workplace. That way, you have the best opportunities to influence your workplace and your working conditions.
  • If you are an unqualified teacher without a teaching degree, but with an academic education and diploma, we refer you to the Saco Association of which you can become a member.
  • If you are, for example, a child minder, student assistant or teaching assistant without a teaching degree, or other academic degree and not studying to become a teacher, we refer you to the union Kommunal. 
  • If you are a school leader or principal, we refer you to Swedish School Leaders’ Union.
"It's a comfort to be together, to highlight teacher-specific issues and have our voices heard."
Elisabeth Liljeblad Teacher for grades 4-9, Swedish and lead teacher,

About

This is Sveriges Lärare

Sveriges Lärare is the union for every category of teachers, student teachers and study and career counsellors.

Checklist

Teaching in Sweden

Working as a teacher in Sweden there are a few things you need to bear in mind.

Frågor & svar