On 18 August 2000, around 1,300 pre-school teachers belonging to the Norwegian Union of Teachers (Norsk Lærerlag, NL) ended a strike which had lasted over two and a half months. At an extraordinary meeting on 19 August, the national congress of NL accepted a new proposal for a collective agreement put forward by the state mediator. The decision to end the industrial action - thought to be Norway's longest public sector strike since the Second World War - came a week after the parties in the municipality of Oslo, which is an independent bargaining unit, concluded an agreement for pre-school teachers on 12 August
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.
On 18 August 2000, around 1,300 pre-school teachers belonging to the Norwegian Union of Teachers (Norsk Lærerlag, NL) ended a strike which had lasted over two and a half months. At an extraordinary meeting on 19 August, the national congress of NL accepted a new proposal for a collective agreement put forward by the state mediator. The decision to end the industrial action - thought to be Norway's longest public sector strike since the Second World War - came a week after the parties in the municipality of Oslo, which is an independent bargaining unit, concluded an agreement for pre-school teachers on 12 August
The pre-school strike was the last of several small strikes that were instigated on 26 May 2000 in the municipal sector (NO0006193N), following the conclusion of new agreements for most groups (NO0006194F). NL was dissatisfied with the lack of attention given in the proposed agreement to the wages of teaching staff and section managers, as well as managers of nurseries. In addition to the general municipal sector pay increases of NOK 5,000 per year, NL managed in new negotiations during the strike to gain acceptance for its demand to place teaching staff higher on the salary scale, as well as for an increase in the minimum wage of nursery managers. For some of the groups concerned, this constitutes an annual increase of NOK 19,500. Despite significant discontent voiced by some representatives on the national committee, the mediation proposal was accepted by unanimous vote. The pre-school teachers are still hoping to gain more ground in the forthcoming local negotiations, and have been given a promise that trained teaching staff, along with managers, will be given additional consideration during local negotiations.
Pre-school teachers have long felt that their wage demands have been neglected in pay settlements, and have on previous occasions resorted to industrial action, though without much success (as in 1995). This time it seems that the strike was well planned, in order to make it last through the summer months, and to avoid being subject to compulsory arbitration by the national authorities. However, some pressure seems ultimately to have been put on the parties, because prior to the final mediation round they met with the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Sylvia Brustad. During the summer months, the minister had been unwilling to make use of compulsory arbitration, despite the fact that both NL and the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (Kommunenes Sentralforbund, KS), representing employers, seemed unwilling to compromise on their positions. However, the prospect of a further extension of the strike may have forced the minister to exert some kind of pressure on the parties to end the conflict and conclude an agreement.
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (2000), Long-running pre-school teachers' strike ends, article.
