Break down of negotiations in Norway
Yesterday Fellesforbundet broke off negotiations with our employer
counterpart Norsk Industri. The metal sector together with the textiles
and clothing sector, the packaging sector and a couple of other smaller
sectors constitute the frontrunner group in this year’s Norwegian
collective bargaining. The result of these negotiations will be decisive on
the collective bargaining for all other sectors of Norwegian society.
After more than a week of negotiations Fellesforbundet president Arve
Bakke gave up concluding this year’s collective bargaining without
mediation. “We have a responsibility towards every low paid worker in
Norway and the offer made by Norsk Industri does not come close to
shouldering this responsibility. There was also no substantial move on
other important questions like securing normal working hours and
keeping guaranty wages for all low paid workers in industry. Also there
was no move on our demands for fairer treatment of foreign workers and
rotation schedules for workers far away from home. “Therefore we had no
other option than to break off negotiations and ask for voluntary
mediation” says Arve Bakke
Voluntary mediation will go on for at least 10 days from today, but will go
on as long as the parties to the agreements find progress satisfactory.
After break down of voluntary mediation, the mediator has four days of
forced mediation to solve the remaining issues. After Easter we will know
more, and will come back with all relevant information.
Best regards
Atle Høie
Internasjonal sekretær
Sentralbord: 02306
Direkte: 23 06 32 11
Mobil: 90846793