The government intervenes in the BPA strike: – Danger to life and health

On behalf of the Minister for Employment and Inclusion Tonje Brenna, State Secretary Per Olav Hopsø called the parties to a meeting this afternoon.

The parties Fagforbundet and NHO Geneo have not reached a solution about user-controlled personal assistants (BPA).

– In the meeting, it unfortunately became clear that it was not possible for the parties to find a solution. That is why we will put forward a proposal for a compulsory wage board, based on the fact that the conflict entails danger to life and health, says State Secretary Per Olav Hopsø.

Life and health come first

At most, 50 Fagforbundet members went on strike. The labor dispute between the parties has been going on since 12 September.

– First of all, we are happy that users and relatives are once again receiving the services they should have. It is always the responsibility of the parties to resolve a labor conflict, but we recognize that we were unable to do so this time and now the ministry has come to the conclusion that consideration for life and health comes first, says Sigurd Løkholm, head of negotiations at NHO Geneo.

The threshold must be high

After the government intervened, the Trade Union has said that they will end the strike. Hopsø is not satisfied that the responsibility for the consequences of the conflict has been shifted to the government.

– The threshold for using a compulsory wage board is, and should be, high. It is the responsibility of the parties to find a solution. They are also responsible for using exemptions and other measures to protect life and health. It is regrettable that they have not succeeded and that the compulsory wage board is now the only way out, says Hopsø.

– Provoked by NHO

The trade union reacts to the government intervening with a forced wage board in a strike where they themselves believe that they have had a responsible strike action.

– We have granted dispensations from the strike where members risked putting someone’s life and health at risk, says negotiator Anne Green Nilsen.

Nilsen believes that NHO has provoked the forced wage board by not allowing one of their members to be exempted, and perceives this as a direct reason why the government chose to intervene.

– Our members must not receive worse conditions than people in similar professions in other tariff areas. We do not understand that NHO should not be able to ensure our members increased purchasing power, when other companies that provide the same services can, says Nilsen.