Teachers and nurses to
strike from Monday
Some state workers agreed to new wage packages late Friday, but a strike at the township level will start affecting schools and health care services in several communities all over Norway. Marathon negotiations were continuing in Oslo, meanwhile, Saturday evening.
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Mediators tried to avert a major strike by public sector employees all over the country and succeeded in some cases. Labour organizations representing state workers accepted a 6.2 percent pay hike Friday night, after negotiations extended nearly 24 hours into overtime.
Bargaining sessions had been going on at several levels – both state, county and township.
The four large labour organizations (UNIO, LO, YS and Akademikerne) each took an offer presented late Friday afternoon from their members' employers under advisement. While state workers accepted it, however, Unio did not.
That means that 3,000 school teachers, pre-school teachers, nurses, researchers, physiotherapists and administrative personnel at the township level won't show up for work on Monday. Unio leaders said the strike will spread quickly, beyond the areas of Oslo, Bergen, Bærum, Tromsø and Karmøy where it will begin in its first phase.
"We had no choice," said Unio leader Helga Hjetland. She represents working groups that long have complained of pay that's out of line with their education levels and contribution to society, and claimed she would have lost all credibility with her members if she accepted the pay hike offer of just over 6 percent.
In Oslo, meanwhile, separate negotiations described as "complex" went into their 42nd hour of overtime Saturday evening. It remained unclear whether various groups of public sector employees in the capital would strike from Monday.
At issue are pay and pensions, with some pay raise demands amounting to 6.5 percent. Low-paid workers, from custodians to pre-school workers, were among those expecting the biggest pay boosts.
Nina Berglund
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