Heike Erkers started being in engaged in labour union issues in the 1990s. In 2003 she was elected member of the board of Akademikerförbundet SSR, she became First Vice-Chair in 2006, and on 13 May 2012 she was elected Chair.[2]
As Chair of Akademikerförbundet SSR, Heike Erkers has, among other things, argued in favour of the value of employers performing salary surveys (lönekartläggning) on a regular basis.[3] Another issue is child poverty.[4] She is also a member of the Executive Committee of the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU)[5]