NORWAY: Strike ends in victory
A six-day private sector strike in Norway by 85,000 workers (one-third of the private sector work force) has won most of the strikers' main demands.
On May 25, almost 79% of the workers involved voted to accept the employers' new offer, which included pay rises for all workers in the private sector, and a further increase in April 2001; an extra pay rise for workers earning less than the average wage; a fifth week of annual leave to be phased in, starting with two extra days' leave next year and two more in 2002; and six weeks' annual leave for workers aged over 60. The agreement will last two years.
Employers in the private sector employers' federation NHO also agreed to union demands that employers contribute to the financing of the reform of vocational training and continuing education.
Danish workers at a firm supplying food to Norwegian charter airline Premiair refused to deliver meals for the airline's Danish departures in solidarity with in-flight personnel who were taking industrial action over conditions which included 20-hour shifts. Premiair tried to break the strike by using pilots as cabin crew, a dangerous move considering that cabin crew have special training for emergency situations which pilots do not have.
Norway's public sector workers may strike next. Thirty-six thousand state employees are ready to picket if negotiations over their wages and conditions agreement are not successful by the end of May. Teachers, postal and railway workers would be among the first to walk out.
Travel agents, taxi drivers and pharmacists also have negotiations pending. Workers in the newspaper and TV broadcasting industries may take industrial action in early June if agreements covering media workers are not reached.
BY MARGARET ALLUM