ICEM UPDATE

No. 43/2000, 9 May 2000
The following is from the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM):

NORWEGIAN STRIKE ENDS IN VICTORY

In a 12-hour overnight bargaining marathon, Norway's unions have secured most of their main demands and have now ended their nationwide strike.

The settlement proposal, reached at 3.30 this morning at the national mediator's office, has been unanimously recommended to the membership by the union negotiators. It was agreed just two and a half hours before the strike was due to escalate.

84,600 Norwegian workers had been on strike across the private sector since 3 May, following the membership's rejection of a previous mediated settlement offer. From this morning, a total of 102,119 workers would have been out. Industrial unions affiliated to the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM) are played a major part in the campaign. Altogether, more than a third of Norway's private sector union members were involved in the strike - reportedly the country's biggest industrial campaign in fifty years.

The new proposed settlement is a big improvement on the previous offer which sparked the strike. It vindicates the tough stance taken by the union negotiators in the overnight talks.

The main results for union members covered by agreements with the private sector employers' federation NHO:

[1 Norwegian krone = 11 US cents]

• A pay rise of 1.50 Norwegian kroner per hour for all, with effect from today. A further increase for all of 1 kr. per hour from next April.
• Those earning less than 87 percent of the average industrial wage will get an additional 2 kr. increase per hour from today and a further additional 2 kr. from next April.
• Those earning between 87.1 and 92 percent of the average industrial wage will get an additional 1.50 kr. per hour from today, and a further additional 1.50 kr. from next April.
• A fifth week's annual leave will be phased in for all, starting with two extra days' leave next year and two more in 2002. Workers aged over 60 will be entitled to six weeks' annual leave.
• The agreement will run for two years.
• The employers will contribute to financing a reform of vocational training and continuing education. This had been a major union demand. The government will give priority to facilitating legislation on this.

These provisions are in addition to agreements already negotiated by unions in some sectors.

The proposed settlement will now be put to the union membership in a ballot.

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