LO takes on new role as consumer and service organisation
Objavljeno: 27 February 1999
The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (Landsorganisasjonen i Norge, LO) is introducing a new membership card scheme, which will include both traditional membership services and an optional package deal providing several consumer benefits. The so-called /LO Favour/ card will first of all be a membership identification card containing information about union affiliation, as well as collective and individual insurance arrangements. Favourable prices and credit arrangements will also be on offer to LO members, which include favourable bank loans, and a Mastercard service with up to NOK 50,000 of credit and with an annual fee of NOK 175. Other benefits include cheap electricity and discounts on telecom services, entertainment, travels and cultural events. The card will be renewed every third year, as more membership benefits will be introduced incrementally.
During 1999, the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) is introducing a new membership card scheme, which includes both traditional membership services as well as a package deal which provides several consumer benefits.
The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (Landsorganisasjonen i Norge, LO) is introducing a new membership card scheme, which will include both traditional membership services and an optional package deal providing several consumer benefits. The so-called LO Favour card will first of all be a membership identification card containing information about union affiliation, as well as collective and individual insurance arrangements. Favourable prices and credit arrangements will also be on offer to LO members, which include favourable bank loans, and a Mastercard service with up to NOK 50,000 of credit and with an annual fee of NOK 175. Other benefits include cheap electricity and discounts on telecom services, entertainment, travels and cultural events. The card will be renewed every third year, as more membership benefits will be introduced incrementally.
In early 1999, 18 member unions of LO, comprising approximately 700,000 members, had so far signed up for the new card, or signalled a willingness to sign the agreement allowing for the introduction of the new membership scheme. LO Favour cards have already been issued to members of the Norwegian Union of Military Officers (Norges Offiserforbund) and the Norwegian Union of Prison Officers (Norsk Fengsels- og Friomsorgsforbund), in a pilot project initiated in December 1998. The response has been positive, and the aim is to complete the process by the end of 1999, at which point all 28 LO-affiliated unions are expected to have signed the agreement.
The new scheme is first and foremost a result of a wish to make LO membership a more active commitment. It is also an attempt to make membership more lucrative, in an effort to attract new members as well as to hold on to the existing membership. This initiative means that LO is taking on the function of a consumer organisation, which may enable it to negotiate good deals with service providers on behalf of its members. The package deal has been worked out in cooperation with the Norwegian bank, Vår, with which LO has had a long-standing relationship.
Eurofound priporoča, da to publikacijo navedete na naslednji način.
Eurofound (1999), LO takes on new role as consumer and service organisation, article.
