The trade union and Parat have taken a total of 58 members out on strike from Saturday. The trade union selects 44 members and Parat 14 members.
The strike affects private treatment institutions in child protection, care, non-profit organizations and refugee receptions such as Stendi, Blindeforbundet, the Salvation Army and Hero.
The employee organizations have announced an escalation of the strike from Wednesday 6 November.
– Too high demands
– We have tried to get the Trade Union Confederation and Parat to meet, but the demands for an increase in the minimum wage rates were too high for us to meet them. Unfortunately, we were therefore unable to reach an agreement during the mediation, says the head of negotiations for NHO, Hilde-Marie Martinsen.
The parties are far apart, says the head of negotiations in the Trade Union:
– We cannot accept that companies do not give employees a wage development in line with the rest of the industry and working life in general, says the head of negotiations in the Trade Union, Karianne Hansen Heien.
Warns of prolonged conflict
Negotiator for Parat, Kjell Morten Aune, says NHO has not been willing to give the employees a good enough financial offer during the mediation.
– We are far apart in our view of what constitutes a reasonable wage increase. What was put on the table from NHO during the negotiations is far from the expectations of our members and therefore we are now facing a potential long-term strike. This is something we from the employee side hoped to avoid, but the employer has not been willing to give its employees a decent wage settlement, says Aune.
He says employees in these businesses must receive a salary level on par with that of public employees in similar positions.
Under half a million is too little
– Unfortunately, we see that employees in private care services work 24/7 working time arrangements, but still have a salary of less than NOK 500,000. This is far below the public wage level and far below what is acceptable, says Aune.
The parties met for mediation on Thursday, and had until midnight on Saturday to reach an agreement.
The mediation ended at 3.40. Mediator Jussi Erik Pedersen established that the parties were so far apart that there was no basis for submitting a proposal that could be expected to be recommended by both parties.
#Employees #private #childcare #care #services #strike
**Interview with Sofia Jensen, spokesperson for the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO)**
**Editor:** Welcome, Sofia! Thank you for joining us today to discuss the recent strike in Norway. Can you start by giving us some background on why the strike was called?
**Sofia Jensen:** Thank you for having me! The strike was initiated due to unresolved negotiations regarding minimum wage increases for our members. We believe that fair compensation is essential, especially in sectors as crucial as child protection, care, and refugee reception.
**Editor:** What specific demands were the trade unions making in these negotiations?
**Sofia Jensen:** Our primary demand was for a significant increase in the minimum wage rates, which we felt were necessary to reflect the rising costs of living and the essential services our members provide. Unfortunately, the employers found our demands too high and we could not reach an agreement during mediation efforts.
**Editor:** After four days of striking, the situation was resolved. Can you tell us what led to the end of the strike?
**Sofia Jensen:** Yes, after intensive negotiations, we were able to reach a historic pay rise for our members. The employers understood the pressing need for fair wages, which highlighted the importance of our work. We hope this sets a positive precedent for future negotiations.
**Editor:** What impact does this strike and its resolution have on the affected sectors, such as child protection and refugee services?
**Sofia Jensen:** This outcome will provide much-needed financial relief to our members and will help improve the overall quality of services provided in these critical sectors. We believe that when workers are compensated fairly, they are more motivated, which translates to better care for children and refugees.
**Editor:** Looking ahead, what are your plans to prevent similar situations in the future?
**Sofia Jensen:** Our goal is to create more structured dialogue with employers to avoid misunderstandings in negotiations. We want to foster a culture of collaboration where both parties feel heard and valued, minimizing the need for strikes in the future.
**Editor:** Thank you for sharing your insights, Sofia. It’s encouraging to hear about the resolution and the implications for workers in Norway.
**Sofia Jensen:** Thank you for having me! We are excited about the positive changes ahead.
