– In order to have a stable workforce, you also have to have a reasonable salary, says union representative Anne Sofie Akselsen. She has worked as a lifeguard at Østfoldbadet in Askim for the past 20 years. – We have a number of regular customers who support us very much, because they see the importance of having a stable workforce, says union representative Anne Sofie Akselsen. Photo: Christian Nygaard-Monsen / news After a colleague was unfairly dismissed, Akselsen and Kari Walczyk decided to put a collective agreement in place. – We wanted a tariff so that we could get things in order, says Akselsen. The shock was therefore great when she realized that her salary went down when the new agreement came into effect last autumn. – I have counted on it. I lose NOK 2,500 a month before tax, says Akselsen. Smaalenenes Avis and FriFagbevegelse have previously discussed the case. Heavy cut The employees at the water park have had their wages reduced because the inconvenience allowances have been greatly reduced. Before, the evening supplement was NOK 48 per hour after 5pm on weekdays. On Saturday and Sunday, a supplement of NOK 43 per hour was paid throughout the day. Now they only get evening allowance if they work after 9pm on Fridays. Then the supplement is NOK 13.50 per hour. The weekend supplement has been reduced to NOK 23.50 per hour, and only applies from 4pm on Saturday. – I work about 40 hours a month in the evenings. That alone adds up to a couple of thousand, says Akselsen. The outdoor pool is often filled up by guests who enjoy swimming. The picture was taken in 2019. Photo: Tomas Berger / news Shouldn’t go down in pay The Norwegian Workers’ Union works to organize workers and establish collective agreements to ensure good pay and working conditions for members. The reduction of the supplements is both in conflict with the collective agreement and hostile to the organisation, says union secretary Terje Mikkelsen. The union, to which the employees at Østfoldbadet are affiliated, is one of the trade unions in the Norwegian National Organization (LO). Union leader in the Norwegian Workers’ Union (NAF) Terje Mikkelsen. Photo: Sissel M. Rasmusssen – It is quite clear in the collective agreement that the employees must not have their pay and working conditions reduced when entering into a collective agreement. We wrote the same in the letter of demand when we demanded a collective agreement, and no one disputed that, he says to FriFagbevegelse. Will not comment In an e-mail to news, managing director Christine Aanerud writes that this is a substantive disagreement between Virke and the Norwegian Trade Union Confederation. She will therefore not comment on the matter. Aanerud has previously said to Smaalenenes Avis that they have opposed the employees’ wish to put a collective agreement in place. – This also includes AFP, which is a contractual pension, which the employees did not previously have as they now have. There are elements in the agreement that are being worked on from central sources and I cannot comment on anything about this, she told the newspaper. Nor does Virke want to comment on the case, because the employee handling the case with them is on holiday. This is stated by political adviser Ingvild Baustad Yuen in an e-mail to news. If the parties do not agree, the case may end up in the labor court in the autumn.
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Employees at Østfoldbadet have lost NOK 2,500 in monthly wages after they received a collective agreement – news Oslo and Viken – Local news, TV and radio
