United Unions and ‘Norsk Industri’ met on Tuesday with national mediator Mats Wilhelm Ruland to get help reach the goal of this year’s pay settlement.
The Corona-postponed talks on the collective negotiated agreement were resumed on Monday. But after only a couple of hours, United Unions chose to break off the negotiations, which thus proceeded to mediation.
– When the employer is not willing to discuss our demands, we need the Ombudsman’s help us move forward, was the message from United union’s leader Jørn Eggum on Monday.
He and his counterpart Stein Lier-Hansen at ‘Norwegian Industry’ each had a small delegation with them when they trooped up to the Ombudsman at 10 o’clock on Tuesday.
In the so-called top sector, Fellesforbundet from LO negotiates with the NHO association Norsk Industri. The outcome of this settlement lays down important guidelines for the subsequent wage settlements in other sectors. Parat is also part of the top sector and negotiates with Norsk Industri in parallel with United Unions.
In June, the Technical Calculation Committee estimated a price increase of only 1.2 per cent this year. The low estimate is due to the impact of the Corona outbreak on the Norwegian economy and low electricity prices. The estimate is fraught with great uncertainty, but if it was to materialise, even a very moderate wage settlement could provide increased purchasing power for employees.
The deadline for reaching an agreement is midnight between 20 and 21 August.
© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today
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