These are turbulent times for the Olivia restaurant chain. In a number of articles, Nettavisen has told about illegal rules and routines for employees in Oslo. At Olivia Hegdehaugsveien, the Federation has taken several employees out on strike and believes that the working conditions are too bad. On Tjuvholmen, FriFagbevegelse reports on a pizza chef who experienced being punished for expressing his opinions. Calls for a boycott of all Olivia restaurants The strike in Oslo has now lasted for over three weeks. – We are striking because our members want a collective agreement which the employer will not sign. That’s why we’ve taken them out on strike, says Lillian Knutsen-Freeman in the Swedish Confederation of Trade Unions to news. Lillian Knutsen-Freeman, Fellesforbundet (LO). Photo: Live Marie Hagen Wold / news She expects forced mediation soon. – If not, we must continue the strike. We stand here until the agreement is signed. If we have to stand here until the summer, we will do it, she says. – How do you think the customers should relate to the matter? – We encourage people not to eat at any Olivia restaurants. Eat somewhere else until the collective agreement comes, says Knutsen-Freeman. Olivia manager: – We have an orderly relationship The general manager of Olivia, Fredrik Remmen, says that there are a small number of people who are on strike, and that the vast majority do not want a collective agreement. – We are not opposed to the employees organizing themselves, and we have orderly relations. Fredrik Remmen, general manager of the restaurant chain Olivia, says guests can be sure that those who work there are satisfied. Photo: Bård Nafstad / news In the job advertisement, Olivia tempts with being named one of Norway’s best workplaces by Great Place to Work every year since 2017. Remmen believes this proves that there is not a culture of fear in Olivia, and that the vast majority of people have good at work. – What do you think of Dagsavisen’s and Fellesforbundet’s call to boycott the restaurant? – I think that is completely wrong. We have orderly conditions and our own local collective agreement with which the vast majority are satisfied, says Remmen. In addition to the local agreement, they follow general regulations (minimum wage). He believes that Olivia’s own housing agreement is, among other things, better than the Collective Union’s collective agreement because they give pay rises to those who, for example, take responsibility and provide training. According to Remmen, they will be meeting with the Riksmekler on Tuesday. Strikers outside Olivia Hegdehaugsveien in Oslo on Wednesday 8 March. Photo: news Operations manager: – Holding nothing back At the same time, operations manager Mathias Bjartveit and the rest of the employees at Olivia Ramsalt in Bodø are working hard to get everything in place before the opening next Thursday. – We are in a good position. There are some final details that need to be put in place, but we are looking forward to the opening, he says to news. – Has the situation in the south affected your work in any way? – Not to a great extent. We have informed the employees about the situation, and are not holding anything back, he says. Operations manager Mathias Bjartveit for the new Olivia restaurant in Bodø. Photo: Synnøve Sundby Fallmyr / news In total they will hire 50 people. – What employment contract do they have? – They have the local house tariff agreement that is at all Olivia restaurants. We have been open about that, and they have agreed. – Are you worried that people in Bodø will cancel because of the strike? – No. As it is now, we have full tables on the opening days. We haven’t had any cancellations that I know of. The final details must be in place before the opening next week. Photo: Synnøve Sundby Fallmyr / news The same can happen in Bodø Head of the Federation’s Northern Norway region, Per Christian Jacobsen, says they must watch closely. – We are fully aware that they will establish themselves here. We appreciate that. And we take it for granted that there are decent working conditions for those who work there. He says that they will visit the restaurant as soon as they have settled in. Regional manager, Fellesforbundet Northern Norway, Per Christian Jacobsen likes to eat at Olivia. But not before a collective agreement is in place. Photo: Synnøve Sundby Fallmyr / news – It is to offer the employees a membership of the Federation. And if, in that case, they want a collective agreement. – They are most welcome, we have nothing to hide, says operations manager Bjarveit. But it won’t be as a dining guest. – Definitely not. Not until a collective agreement is in place, says Jacobsen. He points out that the same could happen in Bodø as in Oslo. – If the employees organize and the management refuses them a collective agreement, we will take them out on strike. But time will tell. Minimum wage in the restaurant industry Photo: Colourbox In Norway, there is no general statutory minimum wage. Except in nine industries, including the catering industry. These are called the General Regulations. The aim is to prevent foreign labor from receiving worse pay and working conditions than is usual in Norway. So even if employees at e.g. a restaurant is not unionized and has a collective agreement, they are entitled to minimum wage. There are no rules on evening, night and weekend supplements, but the employee and employer can agree on different supplements in the employment contract. Working hours and overtime follow the rules of the Working Environment Act. Source: Arbeidstilsynet Olivia has five restaurants in Oslo (Aker brygge, Tjuvholmen, Hegdehaugsveien, Eger and Østbanehallen). In Trondheim, Bergen, Stavanger and Lillestrøm there is one restaurant. Two new ones will soon be opened; one in Bodø and one in Sandnes.
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Opens Olivia restaurant in Bodø while they are on strike in Oslo – news Nordland
