Norway
Background information on industrial relations in Norway
- 28 Dec 1997
Norway: Membership growth and increased rivalry between employer organisations<#PDF_LINK>The memberships of the largest employer and industry organisations in Norway are increasing. At the same time, there are indications of increased rivalry between organisations in late 1997.
- 28 Dec 1997
Norway: Agreement to minimise redundancies in postal service reorganisation<#PDF_LINK>The Norwegian postal service (Norway Post) and its trade unions reached an agreement in October 1997 on the reorganisation of its distribution network. Several measures are to be taken in order to ensure that the reorganisation can take place without too many redundancies among approximately 1,500 workers who are expected to be surplus to requirements. Such measures to minimise redundancies are standard procedure during reorganisation within the state sector, and as well as in the postal service are also used in the armed forces and the national railways.
- 28 Dec 1997
Norway: High service charges lead unions to propose banks boycott<#PDF_LINK>In December 1997, the Norwegian Federation of Trade Unions (LO) and the Federation of Norwegian Professional Associations (AF) joined forces against the country's largest commercial bank,Den Norske Bank, because of its decision to raise service charges.
- 28 Dec 1997
Norway: Some uneasiness in run-up to 1998 wage settlement<#PDF_LINK>The Central Bank of Norway is calling for the labour market parties to act responsibly in the spring 1998 bargaining round, in light of higher than expected estimates for wage and price growth. The question of further education and training is seen as an important component of the 1998 income settlement.
- 28 Dec 1997
Norway: Breakdown of negotiations between NHO and YS over new Basic Agreement<#PDF_LINK>In December 1997, negotiations broke down over a new Basic Agreement between the Confederation of Vocational Unions (YS) and the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO). Amongst other reasons, YS could not accept NHO's demands regarding representativeness when putting forward a wage claim.
- 28 Dec 1997
Norway: 1997 Annual Review for Norway<#PDF_LINK>This record reviews 1997's main developments in industrial relations in Norway.
- 28 Nov 1997
Norway: Federation of Norwegian Professional Associations is split<#PDF_LINK>The Federation of Norwegian Professional Associations (AF) is at present a divided organisation, and several of its affiliated trade unions have established a new confederation for "academics". All together, seven of AF's affiliates, which comprise 28% of AF's membership, have decided to disassociate from AF. This raises the questions of what role the new confederation is to play in public sector bargaining, and how the AF membership of the unions concerned is to be ended.
- 28 Nov 1997
Norway: Agreement between LO and NHO on amendments to the Basic Agreement<#PDF_LINK>In November 1997, following negotiations, Norway's LO trade union confederation and NHO employers' organisation agreed to recommend a proposal for a revised Basic Agreement. One of the proposed amendments is that economic sanctions may be introduced if the Agreement's clauses regarding information and consultation are not complied with. The parties have also included a clause stipulating the minimum number of members a union federation must have in order to be eligible to demand the right to negotiate a collective agreement.
- 28 Nov 1997
Norway: Director of Employment supports lifting ban on private labour exchanges<#PDF_LINK>The head of the Norwegian Directorate of Labour is in favour of abolishing the statutory prohibition against private labour exchanges. Employee representatives are critical of his proposal, mooted in late 1997.
- 28 Nov 1997
Norway: Police unions agree to merge<#PDF_LINK>An agreement was reached in November 1997 to merge the two trade unions representing police officers and rural police officers in Norway. The new union will have almost 9,500 members.
- 28 Nov 1997
Norway: Report of substantial increases in management pay worries LO<#PDF_LINK>According to a report published in late 1997, managers in private firms have received substantial salary increases over 1996-7. The president of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions fears that the substantial salary increases amongst management will make it difficult to attain sufficient support for a moderate wage settlement.
- 28 Oct 1997
Norway: Public committee recommends a moderate further education and training reform<#PDF_LINK>A public committee recommended in October 1997 that all Norwegian employees should be ensured a right to leave of absence for educational and training purposes. Employees with no more than nine years of education should be given a statutory right to upper secondary education.
- 28 Oct 1997
Norway: Compulsory arbitration used to resolve conflict on mobile offshore units<#PDF_LINK>In October 1997, a government proposal recommending compulsory arbitration brought to an end the five-week long industrial dispute on mobile offshore units in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.
- 28 Oct 1997
Norway: New Government leaves the present sick pay scheme untouched<#PDF_LINK>A new Government of the centre took power in Norway on 17 October 1997. According to the statement which outlines the new administration's position, it is clear that current policy with regard to sick pay and other labour issues will not be dismantled, but will to a large extent be continued along previous lines.
- 28 Oct 1997
Norway: Agreement to merge unions of information technology and electrical workers<#PDF_LINK>Two trade union federations affiliated to the LO confederation, representing information technology and electrical workers respectively, have decided to merge from November 1998. The new federation will have more than 40,000 members, and will become the fifth largest federation affiliated to the LO.
- 28 Oct 1997
Norway: New trade union confederation for professionals established<#PDF_LINK>In October 1997, several large trade unions disassociated themselves from AF, the Federation of Norwegian Professional Associations. These trade unions have established a new confederation for academically-qualified staff.
- 28 Sep 1997
Norway: Substantial wage increases and a new bargaining situation for the medical profession<#PDF_LINK>As a result of the 1996 wage settlement, medical physicians employed at Norwegian hospitals gained substantial wage increases. These increases can in part be explained by an increase in basic wages, and in part by prolonging weekly working hours through permitting more overtime and at the same time increasing the financial compensation for overtime. However, the future bargaining situation for the medical profession is unclear since The Norwegian Medical Association has dissociated itself from one of the main organisations, the Federation of Norwegian Professional Associations.
- 28 Sep 1997
Norway: Social partners' support for political parties in the election campaign<#PDF_LINK>Several political parties received financial support from the labour market parties for their September 1997 parliamentary election campaigns. While the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) has supported The Labour Party's election campaign, the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO) and the Norwegian Shipowners' Association have provided financial support to several of the conservative parties. Nonetheless, it is on the relationship between LO and the Labour Party which the media in particular has focused. The close ties between the two organisations go back to the establishment of LO, and encompass both formal and informal cooperation.
- 28 Sep 1997
Norway: Strike on mobile offshore units continues<#PDF_LINK>By late September 1997, there was no solution in the month-long strike on Norwegian mobile offshore units in the North Sea. A renewed attempt at mediation has proved fruitless, and the employers' organisation, Norges Rederiforbund, has announced a lockout which will take place from midnight 8 October 1997.
- 28 Sep 1997
Norway: Committee looks closer at reform of further training and education<#PDF_LINK>A committee which is currently looking into the question of further training and education will propose that all Norwegian employees should be given a right to unpaid leave of absence for training and educational purposes. Employees who only have nine years of education (primary and secondary school), should be given the right to further education. The committee's proposal will be presented on 1 October 1997.
- 28 Sep 1997
Norway: Employers' and unions' views on expected change of government<#PDF_LINK>As a result of the September 1997 parliamentary elections, it is highly likely that Norway's present Labour Government will be replaced by a coalition government from the centre when Parliament reassembles in October. The major labour market parties emphasise that a new government must ensure low inflation when carrying out their political programme. The LO trade union confederation also warns the new administration against changing welfare arrangements, such as the present sick pay scheme.
- 28 Aug 1997
Norway: Temporary employment and leasing of employees<#PDF_LINK>Several studies published in 1997 have contributed to putting a number of different types of "flexible employment relationship" - like temporary employment and "leasing of employees", and outsourcing - on the agenda in Norway. Representatives from trade union organisations believe that the scale of non-permanent employment relationships is too great, and would like to see either a tightening of current practice or of the present statutory provisions. The employers' organisations, on the other hand, would like to see a softening of the law on temporary employment and leasing of labour.
- 28 Aug 1997
Norway: Sick pay an issue in the parliamentary election campaign<#PDF_LINK>In connection with the parliamentary elections in Norway on 15 September 1997, several labour-related issues are on the agenda - including the sick pay scheme, which several of the parties would like to see changed.
- 28 Aug 1997
Norway: Strike hits mobile offshore oil units<#PDF_LINK>Strike action was taken on mobile offshore oil units on the Norwegian shelf from midnight on 24 August 1997. Despite mediation, employers and the OFS union were not able to reach a new agreement. The strike will not have immediate effects on Norwegian oil production.
- 28 Jul 1997
Norway: New legislative proposal on the regulation of retail opening hours<#PDF_LINK>In summer 1997, the Norwegian Government put forward a new legislative proposal regarding opening hours in the retail trade. The Government proposes to make opening hours dependent on the size of the outlet. If the proposal is passed, the opening hours for many outlets will be restricted compared with current practice, while some smaller outlets will be able to extend their opening hours.
- 28 Jul 1997
Norway: Wage regulation negotiations in the state sector finalised<#PDF_LINK>Late June 1996 saw agreement in the central "wage regulation" negotiations in Norway's state sector. These negotiations take place within the framework of the main state sector settlement.
- 28 Jun 1997
Norway: Disagreement over proposed amendments to the Labour Dispute Act<#PDF_LINK>The Norwegian labour market parties have, during spring 1997, been commenting on the proposed principles for a revision of the Labour Dispute Act. The committee which reviewed the Act proposed a strengthening of the confederations' position with regard to collective bargaining. Although theNorwegian Confederation of Trade Unions(LO) and theConfederation of Norwegian Business and Industry(NHO) basically support the proposal, there is significant opposition to it, particularly from several employee organisations.
- 28 Jun 1997
Norway: Employment increases, unemployment falls<#PDF_LINK>New figures presented in the revised national Budget in May 1997 show that employment in Norway has increased faster than earlier estimates predicted, and that unemployment is continuously decreasing. Growth in prices and wages is expected to be moderate for both 1997 and 1998.
- 28 Jun 1997
Norway: Parliament turns down legislative proposal to prohibit closed shops<#PDF_LINK>In June 1997, the Norwegian Parliament turned down a legislative proposal which would provide employees with a right both to choose their own organisation or not to be organised. The aim of the proposal was primarily to prohibit collective agreements with closed shop clauses. This would have had a particular impact on employees in enterprises affiliated to the labour movement.
- 28 May 1997
Norway: Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions holds congress<#PDF_LINK>The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO), the largest employee confederation in Norway, held its four-yearly congress on 10-16 May 1997. The most important issues were the question of continuing with the "Solidarity Alternative", and the adoption of the Action Programme for the period 1997-2001. A discussion also took place between LO unions regarding the confederation's policy towards the privatisation of public activities (services), while the vice-presidency election received considerable attention.
- 28 May 1997
Norway: New wage agreement for the public sector<#PDF_LINK>New wage agreements were reached on 25 May 1997 covering the Norwegian state sector, the municipal sector and the municipality ofOslo. The new agreements include a voluntary early retirement scheme for the age-group from 62-63 years and moderate wage increases. The wage settlement for the public sector is therefore in line with the settlement in the private sector with regard to total wage growth.
- 28 Apr 1997
Norway: Bargaining round extends voluntary early retirement scheme<#PDF_LINK>On 6 April 1997, the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) and the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO) agreed on a proposal for an agreement which they could recommend to their members in this year's bargaining round. LO won acceptance for its demands on the extension of the voluntary early retirement scheme, while the pay increases agreed centrally may be described as moderate.
- 28 Apr 1997
Norway: Supreme Court finds Government not guilty of abusing compulsory arbitration<#PDF_LINK>In April 1997, the Norwegian Supreme Court found the Government not guilty of abusing compulsory arbitration in order to stop industrial conflict. TheFederation of Offshore Workers' Trade Unions(OFS), which brought the domestic lawsuit against the Government, lost on all counts.
- 28 Mar 1997
Norway: Wage bargaining begins in the private sector<#PDF_LINK>Wage bargaining in the private sector commenced on 10 March 1997 with negotiations between theNorwegian Confederation of Trade Unions(LO)and theConfederation of Norwegian Business and Industry(NHO). So far the question of voluntary early retirement has been the most difficult issue and, after around one week, LO broke off the negotiations. Mediation was due to commence the first week after the Easter holidays.
- 28 Mar 1997
Norway: Offshore oil workers' union affiliates to the Confederation of Vocational Unions<#PDF_LINK>The previously independent employee organisation, The Federation of Offshore Workers Trade Unions (OFS), has decided to affiliate to The Confederation of Vocational Unions (YS) from March 1997.
- 28 Mar 1997
Norway: NHO reports increase in membership<#PDF_LINK>The number of member companies of the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO) increased by around 2,000 during 1996. NHO aims for a further growth in membership towards the year 2000.
- 28 Feb 1997
Norway: LO executive committee proposes new action programme<#PDF_LINK>The executive committee of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions has presented a proposal for a new action programme, encompassing a wide variety of social and economic issues, which is due to be adopted at its congress in May 1997.
- 28 Feb 1997
Norway: Strikes hit 60-year high<#PDF_LINK>Figures from the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry show that over 530,000 working days were lost in industrial conflict during the 1996 wage negotiations in Norway. The major strikes all occurred in the private sector and among unions affiliated to the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions.
- 28 Feb 1997
Norway: The 1997 bargaining round previewed<#PDF_LINK>In 1997, the mid-term renegotiations of Norwegian collective agreements will take place in a climate of economic growth. So far, the signals indicate moderate wage demands, in line with the social pact agreed in 1992 by the Government and the central social partners.