Its members, about 5,000 retail workers, would begin a strike on April 1, said the Swedish Commercial Employees Union on Monday.

Tidningarnas Telegrambyra, the Swedish news agency, said that members of the union work at 79 work sites, including the largest retail chains in Sweden.

"The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise continually block free collective bargaining rights," union leader Lars-Anders Haggstrom said in the announcement of the strike.

The news agency further said that the strike affects retailers Ikea, Ika, Willys, Ahlens and others. Grocery chain Citiygross, hardware retailer Bauhaus and the sporting goods chain Stadium are affected.

Retailers would feel the brunt of the walkout, "but from a consumer perspective the impact will not be that great," Haggstrom said.

He further added, "There was no option for us. We want to secure an agreement before the end of March. We have to get the negotiation process started; thus far we have got nowhere." (With Inputs from Agencies)