Norway
Background information on industrial relations in Norway
- 09 Dec 2004
Norway: Rising tensions in air-traffic control<#PDF_LINK>Since 2003, a continuing reorganisation process at Avinor, which is responsible for air-traffic control services in Norway, has contributed to a deterioration in the relationship between management and trade unions at the state-owned limited company. The tension culminated in late October 2004 when all air-traffic controllers at the control centre in Røyken simultaneously went sick, halting air traffic for almost a day in the southern parts of Norway.
- 26 Nov 2004
Norway: More women taking on trade union positions<#PDF_LINK>A study published in 2004 finds that the number of female trade union representatives in the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) and its member unions has increased since the mid-1990s. At various levels and positions in these organisations, women now often enjoy a level of representation corresponding to their share of the membership. Men, however, are still over-represented in central leadership positions, as well as in leadership positions at the local level.
- 26 Nov 2004
Norway: Tariff Board votes to extend collective agreements to petroleum installations<#PDF_LINK>In October 2004, Norway's Tariff Board ruled in favour of a partial extension of three collective agreements at seven onshore petroleum installations - the first such move to extend agreements to non-signatories in recent years. The case was brought by trade unions on the grounds that foreign workers at the seven sites were subject to substandard pay and employment conditions. The decision comes very much as a response to EU enlargement and the prospect of increasing labour migration to Norway from the new Member States.
- 29 Oct 2004
Norway: Impact of EEA on industrial relations assessed<#PDF_LINK>A trade union-commissioned reported published in September 2004 examines the consequences of 10 years of membership of the European Economic Area (EEA) for Norwegian industrial relations, working life and the role of the trade union movement. The study concludes that on the whole the effects of the EEA have been positive, but that it has, to some degree, also contributed to reducing the democratic accountability of Norwegian working life policies. The trade unions have not been able to sufficiently compensate for this deficit through their participation in European-level organisations and social dialogue, it is argued.
- 29 Oct 2004
Norway: Childcare 'inhibits women’s career development'<#PDF_LINK>Norwegian women with childcare responsibilities have a lower average hourly wage than women without children, according to a report published in September 2004. Explanations for this wage gap are numerous, but evidence cited in the study hints at a structural problem, in which direct discrimination is but one factor. Moreover, childcare responsibility, and related absence from work, is found to be an impediment to career development.
- 04 Oct 2004
Norway: Lidl enters Norwegian market<#PDF_LINK>In September 2004, Lidl opened its first nine outlets in Norway. In the light of allegations about the German-based retail multinational's labour practices in other countries, its arrival has caused some uncertainty among Norwegian trade unions, but so far the company has adopted an accommodating approach to the unions.
- 29 Sep 2004
Norway: Closer coordination of labour market and welfare administration proposed<#PDF_LINK>In June 2004, a public committee issued recommendations aimed at achieving closer coordination of public labour market and welfare functions on Norway. It recommends giving administrative responsibility to two new bodies, covering work/income matters and pensions respectively, and political responsibility to a single ministry. The social partners have until November to give their views on the proposals.
- 06 Sep 2004
Norway: Two unions cut ties with National Wage Board<#PDF_LINK>In Norway, industrial disputes that have been referred to compulsory arbitration are decided by the National Wage Board. In August 2004, the Board ruled in favour of the Norwegian Oil Industry Association (OLF) employers' organisation in a dispute with the Federation of Oil Workers' Trade Unions (OFS) and the Norwegian Organisation for Managers and Supervisors (Lederne). The ruling is seen by the two trade unions to be biased and undemocratic, and they have chosen to withdraw from further participation in the National Wage Board.
- 31 Aug 2004
Norway: Social partners split on proposed employment law reform<#PDF_LINK>By summer 2004, most social partner organisations and public regulatory bodies had submitted their responses to proposals for changes to Norway's framework of employment law, issued in February by a public committee. There are significant divisions between employers' organisations and trade unions in important areas, in particular on the issues of working time and fixed-term employment.
- 16 Aug 2004
Norway: Thematic feature - industrial relations and undeclared work<#PDF_LINK>This article gives a brief overview of the industrial relations aspects of undeclared work in Norway, as of June 2004. It looks at: the nature and extent of undeclared work; the regulatory framework; the role, activities and views of the social partners; and partnerships between social partners and public authorities to tackle undeclared work.
- 11 Aug 2004
Norway: Scope of YS union merger reduced<#PDF_LINK>Four trade unions affiliated to Norway's Confederation of Vocational Unions (YS) had been planning a merger since 2002, but two of them pulled out, at least for the present, in late June 2004. The two remaining unions, PRIFO and 2fo, will continue the merger process. However, the merged union, due to be established on 1 January 2005, will now have 30,000 members rather than 90,000, as originally envisaged.
- 07 Jul 2004
Norway: Decision postponed on extension of collective agreements<#PDF_LINK>Since 1993, Norway has had provisions in place allowing for collective agreements to be extended to non-members of the signatory organisations, where this will prevent the employment of foreign workers on substandard pay and working conditions. The first application for such an extension, relating to seven onshore petroleum installations, was filed in December 2003 by the LO trade union confederation. In June 2004, the Tariff Board considering the issue decided to postpone its decision, as insufficient evidence of social dumpinghad been presented. Further documentation will now be gathered.
- 06 Jul 2004
Norway: Government intervenes to halt offshore oil strike<#PDF_LINK>In late June 2004, the Norwegian government imposed compulsory arbitration to end a week-long industrial dispute in the offshore oil sector, faced with the threat of a total halt in oil production on the Norwegian continental shelf.
- 28 Jun 2004
Norway: Thematic feature - individual labour/employment disputes and the courts<#PDF_LINK>This article examines how individual labour/employment disputes are handled through the courts in Norway, as at March 2004.
- 10 Jun 2004
Norway: New agreements reached in public sector<#PDF_LINK>New collective agreements for the Norwegian central state and municipal sectors were concluded in May 2004. The settlements provide general pay increases for most employees, while funds have been set aside for local bargaining. The signatories estimate that the new agreements will generate wage growth of around 3.5% in 2004.
- 07 Jun 2004
Norway: Transitional arrangements introduced for free movement of workers from new EU Member States<#PDF_LINK>On 1 May 2004 new rules came into force in Norway imposing, for a transitional period, restrictions on the free movement of workers from the new EU Member States in central and eastern Europe. The government has also proposed a number of additional measures aimed at preventing social dumping.
- 04 Jun 2004
Norway: Survey examines lifelong learning<#PDF_LINK>A research report published in May 2004 outlines the current conditions for lifelong learning in Norway. It finds that in 2003 61% of employees participated in some sort of training or education, while around half of all employees pursue what the study labels as learning-intensivework. The study reveals significant differences in this area between sectors and between employees with higher and lower levels of education.
- 02 Jun 2004
Norway: Strikes break out during bargaining round<#PDF_LINK>In May 2004, strikes occurred in five private sector bargaining areas in Norway, involving workers in transport, journalism, hotels and restaurants, the graphical sector and breweries. All were settled by the bargaining parties after industrial action of varying length and severity. The most notable characteristic of these conflicts was the diversity of issues subject to dispute - in addition to normalpay matters, the issues at stake included pensions, agency workers and differential treatment of unionised and non-unionised employees.
- 17 May 2004
Norway: 2003 Annual Review for Norway<#PDF_LINK>This record reviews 2003's main developments in industrial relations in Norway.
- 12 May 2004
Norway: Unions plan merger<#PDF_LINK>In April 2004, the Norwegian Union of Graphical Workers (NGF) and the Norwegian United Federation of Trade Unions (Fellesforbundet) concluded an agreement on a possible merger. If the two unions’ decision-making bodies give their consent to the merger, NGF (12,000 members) will be incorporated into Fellesforbundet (138,000 members) in January 2006.
- 12 May 2004
Norway: Concern raised over childbirth-related discrimination<#PDF_LINK>In its annual report for 2003, the Norwegian Gender Equality Ombud highlights an increasing number of applications for assistance from women claiming discrimination at work as a result of pregnancy or maternity leave. The Ombud will monitor developments in this area closely in future.
- 01 May 2004
Norway: 2004 bargaining round progresses<#PDF_LINK>During Norway's spring 2004 collective bargaining round, sectoral agreements are being renegotiated across the economy. The first deal was reached in the trend-setting manufacturing industry in early April, following the government’s pledge to introduce a statutory right to an occupational pension for all workers, thus resolving a key issue in the negotiations. The parties in manufacturing also agreed on general hourly pay increase of NOK 1.00, which was subsequently adopted in a number of other private sector agreements. However, industrial action has broken out in wholesale companies.
- 07 Apr 2004
Norway: Agreement reached in manufacturing industry<#PDF_LINK>At the beginning of April, the first sectoral agreement in Norway's 2004 collective bargaining round was concluded in manufacturing industry. The social partners agreed on moderate wage increases and, with the help of the government, on a solution to the controversial issue of occupational pensions.
- 31 Mar 2004
Norway: Changes to employment legislation proposed<#PDF_LINK>A public committee examining changes to Norway's working environment legislation issued its report in February 2004. It recommends a range of minor and major alterations to the present legal framework, in areas such as discrimination, monitoring and control at work, information and consultation, and transfers of undertakings. The committee’s majority recommendations regarding changes to the rules on working time and temporary employment have met with strong opposition from trade unions.
- 09 Mar 2004
Norway: Wage growth eased in 2003<#PDF_LINK>Wages in Norway rose on average by 4½% in 2003, according to figures issued in February 2004 by the Technical Calculating Committee on Incomes Settlements. This compares with wage growth of 5.7% in 2002. The average growth in real wages was 2% from 2002 to 2003.
- 02 Mar 2004
Norway: Controversial pension reform proposed<#PDF_LINK>In January 2004, a public committee announced its recommendations for a reform of the Norwegian pension system. The main objectives of the proposal are to establish a closer relationship between the income earned and pension received, and to encourage older employees to stay longer in employment rather than retiring early. Parts of the proposal have met with strong criticism from trade unions.