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2 April, 2000Main trade union demands were met just one hour before 21,500 workers were due to start industry-wide strike action.
NORWAY: At 5 a.m. on Saturday, April 1, barely one hour before wide-scale strike action was due to commence, a mediated settlement was reached between the Norwegian LO and private sector employers in the 2000 collective bargaining talks. (For background information, see website and NewsBriefs story of March 30.) The deal, which runs for three years and meets the major demands of the trade unions, is tentative until balloted by union members at the end of this month.
With regard to an increase in annual leave, workers will get 5 weeks' vacation (now 21 days), with 1 day in 2001 and 3 days in 2002. Workers over 60 years of age will be entitled to 6 weeks' leave. All vacation time is fully compensated.
Wages in the private sector will see a real increase in purchasing power plus a move towards wage equality. Firstly, all workers will receive an hourly rise of 0.75 Norwegian kroner ($0.09) from April 1, 2000. Lower-wage earners, whose pay is below 87.1 per cent of the 1999 industry average of NOK 211,000 ($24,932), will get an additional NOK 1.25 ($0.15) per hour, and those earning between 87.1 per cent and 92 per cent of the industry average will get an increase of NOK 1.00 ($0.12) per hour. Results for later wage bargaining at company level will be in addition to the above.
As concerns union demands for funding for further education, employers refused any contribution; however, the parties involved will discuss the possibility for a financing arrangement.
The IMF-affiliated Fellesforbundet will be covered by the LO settlement.
With regard to an increase in annual leave, workers will get 5 weeks' vacation (now 21 days), with 1 day in 2001 and 3 days in 2002. Workers over 60 years of age will be entitled to 6 weeks' leave. All vacation time is fully compensated.
Wages in the private sector will see a real increase in purchasing power plus a move towards wage equality. Firstly, all workers will receive an hourly rise of 0.75 Norwegian kroner ($0.09) from April 1, 2000. Lower-wage earners, whose pay is below 87.1 per cent of the 1999 industry average of NOK 211,000 ($24,932), will get an additional NOK 1.25 ($0.15) per hour, and those earning between 87.1 per cent and 92 per cent of the industry average will get an increase of NOK 1.00 ($0.12) per hour. Results for later wage bargaining at company level will be in addition to the above.
As concerns union demands for funding for further education, employers refused any contribution; however, the parties involved will discuss the possibility for a financing arrangement.
The IMF-affiliated Fellesforbundet will be covered by the LO settlement.