1. Introduction

The use of information technology within the law is typically seen as the process of capturing and digitalizing legal decisions for easy dissemination, for example through databases. However, information technology can also be seen as affecting the actual law-making process. This arguably is the case with the use by the labour unions in Sweden with respect to information technology and social media in the collective bargaining process. Due to the uniqueness of the Swedish labour law model, this use can be seen as directly affect the making of the law, here collective agreements. The use of information technology within this setting raises the question of whether democracy in the workplace is enhanced or restricted. This article first sets out the parameters of the Swedish labour law model, and then looks at the relationship of the social partners and their members. The third section takes up the use of social media and information technology by certain of the Swedish social partners. The article concludes with a discussion whether this use moves the law forward, or instead, leaves the law-making simply in the hands of those who are most technically savvy, in essence diminishing democracy in the work place as opposed to expanding it.

2. The Swedish labour law model

The Swedish labour law model (den svenska arbetsrättsmodellen), established already at the turn of the twentieth century, is characterized by a high degree of self-regulation between the social partners.