– I think we will get better quality and more loyal employees, says kitchen and restaurant manager at Smia, Olav Kåre Jørgensen. Now the municipality has specifically demanded that if pubs want to have a liquor licence, their employees must have a collective agreement. – For the workers, this is a huge advantage. A guarantee that they get what they should have and their rights. It is extremely important, says Jørgensen. They themselves have always had a collective agreement for their employees, but now their competitors must also follow suit. And Kristiansund municipality is currently the only one in the country that has seen such a requirement, according to the Federation. Ømer Karadag is a chef at Smia, and thinks it is important that such a requirement is seen. Photo: Eirik Haukenes / news – Never seen before It all started with the Swedish Confederation expressing a wish to all municipalities in the country to weed out rogue actors, explains mayor Kjell Neergaard (Ap). And Kristiansund took this very seriously. – That we are first is great, and I think most municipalities will follow. We all want the nightlife industry to be serious too. Mayor of Kristiansund, Kjell Neergaard (Ap). Photo: Eirik Haukenes / news They have decided that the outstations must submit documentation that they have put in place a collective agreement with the employees no later than three months after they have been granted a liquor licence. – It is being followed up on the municipality’s side, notes Neergaard. Fellesforbundet rejoices over the demand that the municipality has now seen, and was surprised when they found out about it. – I have never seen this before. Kristiansund is a pioneering municipality. We cheer for them, says Cecilie Søllesvik, head of department in Fellesforbundet department 065. – Many broke In Norway there is already a minimum wage requirement, but with a collective agreement there will be much greater security for the employees, according to Søllesvik. She also believes that it ensures equal competition and will contribute to recruitment in an industry with too few employees. – Employees have an impact on their working day with rosters, working hours, pension and welfare schemes. It makes their working day much better, says Søllesvik. Ane Julie Folde and Cecilie Søllesvik at Fellesforbundet in Kristiansund. Photo: Eirik Haukenes / news Ane Julie Folde, an organizational worker in Fellesforbundet department 065, often goes around visiting the industry and knows how important such an agreement is. – It is a very fun and nice industry, but we see that there are many breaches of working time rules, overtime rules and not least the minimum wage. Those who are 16 years old and younger, there the hourly wage can be very low. – But we have a minimum wage rule, does it help with a demand for a tariff? – I think more employers will be clear about the minimum wage regulations if they have to document that they pay the statutory wage, or receive a demand for a collective agreement to obtain a liquor licence. When it can affect them financially, I think more people will familiarize themselves with the regulations, says Folde. At Smia, they have a collective agreement because it has been a request from employees. And they both want to and must continue with that, if they are going to serve alcohol. – It costs a little, it does. But it seems to me to be a fair bit of trouble, in relation to following laws and regulations as an employer, says the boss. He believes it is an advantage that all restaurants and pubs get a collective agreement in place. – I think that is in its place above employees as well, says Jørgensen.
ttn-69
Require a collective agreement for places with a liquor license – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
