Norway
Background information on industrial relations in Norway
- 28 Dec 2000
Norway: Budget compromise opens door to increased labour immigration<#PDF_LINK>A state budget compromise reached in November 2000 between Norway's Labour Party government and the coalition of opposition centre parties may lead to a relaxation of the current provisions regulating immigration to Norway for employment purposes.
- 28 Dec 2000
Norway: New NHO president cause controversy<#PDF_LINK>In November 2000, the new president of the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO) started his term of office controversially when he defended lucrative management share option schemes while at the same time calling for a tightening of the rules on sick pay.
- 28 Dec 2000
Norway: Trade unions face financial difficulties<#PDF_LINK>The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) and its member unions are facing financial difficulties, due to falling membership and increasing trade union activities. Some unions may thus have to cut back on their activity in 2001.
- 28 Dec 2000
Norway: Social partners reluctantly approve further cooperation on incomes policy<#PDF_LINK>In summer 2000, a public committee issued its report on a "strategy for employment and value creation" in Norway. By the end of the year, the social partners had given their responses to the committee's recommendations on wage formation and incomes policy. The main impression is that there is a consensus, albeit rather reluctant, about continuing cooperation on incomes policy.
- 28 Dec 2000
Norway: 2000 Annual Review for Norway<#PDF_LINK>This record reviews 2000's main developments in industrial relations in Norway.
- 28 Nov 2000
Norway: Green light for new union confederation<#PDF_LINK>In autumn 2000, the national conferences of the four Norwegian trade unions considering the creation of a new confederation gave their leaders a mandate to take the process further. In October 2000, the two teachers' unions involved also decided to continue their parallel process of considering a possible merger.
- 28 Nov 2000
Norway: Future of Statoil provokes controversy in labour movement<#PDF_LINK>In October-November 2000, Norway's governing Labour Party and the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) came out in favour of a partial privatisation of the Statoil oil company and of the "State's Direct Financial Interest" in petroleum operations. However, in both organisations the decisions were controversial and caused significant disagreement, indicating that the labour movement remains divided on the issue.
- 28 Nov 2000
Norway: Director of Labour resigns over falsification of employment data<#PDF_LINK>The Norwegian Director of Labour, Ted Hanisch resigned in October 2000 after an inquiry found that the Labour Market Administration has routinely reported exaggerated figures for the number for people helped to find jobs. Jon Blaalid has been appointed temporary director, with a view to initiating a "clean-up" operation within the Administration.
- 28 Oct 2000
Norway: Public committee proposes controversial changes to sick pay scheme<#PDF_LINK>In September 2000, a public committee with broad representation from the social partners made a proposal to amend the Norwegian sick pay scheme. A majority on the committee favours a reduction in sick pay from 100% to 80% of normal pay during the first 16 days of sickness absence, which will be compensated for by tax reductions. The committee also proposes making employers bear more of the costs of long-term sickness absence.
- 28 Sep 2000
Norway: Long-running pre-school teachers' strike ends<#PDF_LINK>Norway's longest public sector strike since the Second World War ended on 18 August 2000, after more than two and a half months of industrial action by 1,300 pre-school teachers. The teachers accepted a mediation proposal involving regrading for teaching staff and a higher minimum pay rate for nursery managers.
- 28 Sep 2000
Norway: Sickness absence continues to rise<#PDF_LINK>Recent figures from the National Insurance Administration show that the level of sickness absence in Norway reached a new high in the first half of 2000. A public committee considering possible measures to reduce sickness absence is due to publish its report on 15 September 2000, and its findings are expected to stir up controversy among the social partners.
- 28 Sep 2000
Norway: Minister wants closer cooperation on EU social policy<#PDF_LINK>In August 2000, Norway's main employers' and trade union confederations were invited by the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development to a briefing on industrial relations developments and policies in the EU. The aim is to establish closer cooperation between the Nowegian social partners and national authorities on EU social and employment policy.
- 28 Sep 2000
Norway: Latest attempt to create new trade union confederation<#PDF_LINK>In September 2000, following the failure of a proposed merger between the AF and YS confederations, four public sector trade unions announced plans to create a new Norwegian union confederation. The proposed confederation would be the largest trade union organisation in the state sector.
- 28 Aug 2000
Norway: Developments in membership of unions and employers' organisations<#PDF_LINK>In May 2000, Statistics Norway released new statistics on the membership of trade unions and employers' organisations in Norway. There was a relatively modest increase in the total memberships of the various organisations in 1999, and the figures indicate a continuation of trends in density levels seen in previous years, and notably a slight fall in union density.
- 28 Jul 2000
Norway: Compulsory arbitration ends strikes<#PDF_LINK>At the end of June 2000, the Norwegian Minister of Local Government and Regional Development made use of compulsory arbitration to end a strike by social workers in Oslo. This governmental intervention was one of four in the 2000 bargaining round, which saw several small strikes, alongside the major dispute in the private sector area covered by the LO trade union confederation and NHO employers' confederation.
- 28 Jul 2000
Norway: Public committee proposes continued cooperation on incomes policy<#PDF_LINK>A public committee that has been considering the issue of "employment and value creation" in Norwegian working life delivered its report in late June 2000. The committee emphasises the objective of maintaining wage growth at the level of Norway's trading partners, with the view to safeguarding high levels of employment and a stable economy. The committee supports a continuation of cooperation on incomes policy matters, with a strong coordination of wage formation.
- 28 Jul 2000
Norway: AF union confederation to be dissolved in 2001<#PDF_LINK>In June 2000, the council of representatives of the the Confederation of Norwegian Professional Associations (AF) decided to dissolve the organisation, marking the culmination of a long period of turbulence within AF. The confederation will be formally dissolved in 2001.
- 28 Jun 2000
Norway: Large-scale strike averted in public sector<#PDF_LINK>On 26 May 2000, the state mediator's proposals for new collective agreements in the Norwegian public sector were recommended by trade unions in the state and municipal sectors, preventing a large-scale strike.
- 28 Jun 2000
Norway: New collective agreements concluded in public sector<#PDF_LINK>In May 2000, new collective agreements were concluded in the Norwegian public sector. Apart from providing for a general annual wage increase of NOK 5,000 and extended annual leave, the new agreements will be advantageous to a number of groups with higher education.
- 28 Jun 2000
Norway: AF scraps plans to create new union confederation<#PDF_LINK>On 14 June 2000, the Confederation of Norwegian Professional Associations (AF) decided to end its involvement in a planned merger with the Norwegian Confederation of Vocational Unions (YS), and the Norwegian Police Federation. AF stated that the deliberation process had made it evident that there was not a sufficient basis for a new union confederation.
- 28 May 2000
Norway: Strike in private sector ends<#PDF_LINK>On 9 May 2000, the State Mediator's proposal for a revised collective agreement in the Norwegian private sector was approved by the LO trade union confederation and the NHO employers' confederation. The conclusion of the agreement brought an end to the major strike which started on 3 May, and prevented the planned escalation of the dispute.
- 28 May 2000
Norway: LO and NHO agree revised proposal for private sector collective agreement<#PDF_LINK>In May 2000, the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions and the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry agreed on a new proposal for a collective agreement in the private sector, ending six days of strike action. The new proposal was subsequently approved by a large majority of LO's members.
- 28 Apr 2000
Norway: Proposed new three-year private sector agreement will increase annual leave<#PDF_LINK>On 1 April 2000, the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions and the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry agreed on a proposal for a new basic agreement applicable to large parts of the Norwegian private sector. The proposed three-year agreement includes a general wage increase of NOK 0.75 per hour in 2000, as well as a gradual implementation of a fifth week of annual leave.
- 28 Apr 2000
Norway: Co-determination at Nordic level in finance examined<#PDF_LINK>The development of transnational financial corporations is a relatively recent phenomenon within the Nordic countries. A report published in April 2000 by the Norwegian research institute, Fafo, investigates the effects of "transnationalisation" in the finance sector on employees' rights to co-determination, and how employee organisations and representatives have dealt with these developments.
- 28 Apr 2000
Norway: Strike hits private sector<#PDF_LINK>Some 80,000 members of the LO trade union confederation went on strike in the Norwegian private sector on 3 May 2000, after LO members rejected the proposal for a new collective agreement drawn up by LO and the NHO employers' confederation. The strike involves a wide range of sectors.
- 28 Mar 2000
Norway: Minister proposes national-level social dialogue<#PDF_LINK>In February 2000, the Norwegian Minister of Local Government and Regional Development proposed the establishment of a social dialogue at the national level, with a view to safeguarding Norwegian interests in the social dialogue at the European Union level.
- 28 Mar 2000
Norway: Proposal for balanced gender representation on company boards proves controversial<#PDF_LINK>Consultations ended in February 2000 on a government proposal to amend Norway's Equal Status Act in a number of areas. The proposed introduction of regulations stipulating a pro-rata representation of the sexes on the boards of semi-public and private enterprises proved especially controversial.
- 28 Feb 2000
Norway: Temperature rising prior to wage settlement<#PDF_LINK>On 4 February 2000 the Norwegian government's contact committee on incomes policy met to discuss the general outlook for the national economy and the forthcoming pay round in spring 2000. The Prime Minister pledged at the meeting to continue the current early retirement scheme, and emphasised that there will be no favourable treatment of particular groups during the settlement.
- 28 Feb 2000
Norway: IIRA Congress to be held in Norway in June 2001<#PDF_LINK>From 25 to 29 June 2001, the sixth European congress of the International Industrial Relations Association - entitled "Working Europe: visions and realities" - will be held in Oslo, Norway.
- 28 Feb 2000
Norway: Increased holidays a central demand in spring 2000 bargaining round<#PDF_LINK>More holiday and extra funds for skills and training development are set to be central issues on the agenda when collective bargaining commences in the Norwegian private sector in March 2000. The negotiations will be conducted at the level of the central confederations.
- 28 Feb 2000
Norway: Disagreement over shape of proposed new trade union confederation<#PDF_LINK>The joint steering committee deliberating the basis for a new trade union confederation in Norway, merging the existing AF and LO confederations, delivered its report in February 2000, but there is already internal discontent with its main recommendations. If established, the new confederation would pose a significant challenge to LO in the public sector.
- 28 Jan 2000
Norway: EU Directive on posted workers implemented<#PDF_LINK>In December 1999, the Norwegian parliament approved a legislative proposal to transpose the 1996 EU Directive concerning the posting of workers. The implementation will mean only minor alterations to the present Norwegian legal framework.
- 28 Jan 2000
Norway: Labour market stagnated in 1999<#PDF_LINK>1999 marked a turning point in the Norwegian labour market, the Director of Labour stated in December 1999, although the negative developments were not as significant as envisaged in 1998. Relatively stable employment levels and a continuing, but modest, growth in the overall unemployment rate are expected in 2000.
- 28 Jan 2000
Norway: Moderate wage growth achieved in 1999<#PDF_LINK>The new report of Norway's Technical Calculating Committee on Income Settlements, published in January 2000, indicates that wage growth stood at 4.75% in 1999. This was achieved within the moderate framework set by the public committee that laid the basis for 1999's pay settlement, and wage growth was significantly lower than in 1998.
- 28 Jan 2000
Norway: Crisis in Norwegian shipbuilding<#PDF_LINK>Since 1998 the Norwegian shipbuilding industry has witnessed dramatic reductions in orders and significant losses of income. The industry experienced a similar crisis in the 1970s and managed to survive increasing international competition and loss of market share by readjusting its production. We review the situation in early 2000.