The concern for children and young people in Gjøvik is increasing. This is revealed in a notice sent to the State Administrator in the Interior. It is school doctor Svanhild Hansen and municipal superintendent Siri Fuglem Berg in Gjøvik municipality who are now sounding the alarm. Today, approx. 8,200 teachers at the country’s schools went on strike. Already from August, the offer of teaching has been greatly reduced in many municipalities. Several municipalities have notified the State Administrators in their regions. Gjøvik is one of the municipalities that has felt the consequences of the strike right from the start of school. – We are concerned about the state of health of students who are affected, says Berg. Now she hopes that someone can take action. Extra vulnerable pupils After two years of the pandemic, Hansen and Berg believe that the pupils are in an extra vulnerable situation. – We already know that this is a group of students who are affected, who have had it tough throughout the pandemic. The strike came at the worst possible time for them, explains Berg. The two doctors look with concern at a new period without teaching, both in terms of training and the pupils’ mental health. – We receive feedback from principals about students who drop out and who they are unable to catch up with again. We also receive messages of concern from parents with children who express suicidal thoughts to a greater extent than before. We hear that there are more people making their debut with drugs, says Berg. They believe this must be taken into account when they now ask the State Administrator for an assessment of the situation. – We hope that they realize that there is a danger to life and health for the students, and that everything that can be done is done to put an end to the strike. The municipalities alone are responsible The report of concern from Gjøvik municipality has been sent to the county doctor at the State Administrator. County doctor Harald Vallgårda has taken the warning into account. He is not responsible for following up on the situation. – If children and young people are affected in terms of health, it is the municipality that is initially responsible for ensuring that they get the help they need, says Vallgårda. The county doctor has forwarded the notification to the National Health Inspectorate. Vallgårda does not expect feedback from the Norwegian Health Authority. TAKEN FOR ORIENTATION: – We take the concern for children and young people into consideration. Those at the State Administrator who have the most to do with this are those who work with kindergartens and education. They inform the Directorate of Education about the situation in the municipality and in the school, says county doctor Vallgårda. Photo: Arne Sørenes / news news has previously reported that the National Health Service does not assess the health situation for children and young people. Communications director Nina Vedholm states that this will not change with notifications from the municipalities. She refers to the Directorate of Education. DO NOT DO ANYTHING WITH THE NOTICE: The Director of Communications in the Norwegian Health Authority states that there is a dialogue between the Directorate of Education and the State Administrators. Photo: Pressefoto/Helsetilsynet Cathrine Børnes in the Directorate of Education (Udir) confirms that they have received the notice from Gjøvik municipality. – We gather information and have ongoing dialogue with both the state administrators and the Ministry of Education about the consequences of the strike, says the divisional director. This happens after news reported before the weekend that no one had an overview of the consequences. Børnes knows that many of the municipalities affected by the strike are implementing measures aimed at children and young people, both in and out of school. – The employer can apply for a dispensation for individuals for certain tasks, and justify the application with a risk to life and health, or other vital considerations, she says. FOLLOWS THE SITUATION: When asked about the relationship between the right to strike and the right to training, Børnes refers to ministry level. Photo: Press photo/Directorate of Education Warns escalation Martin Skramstad knows the situation in the affected municipalities. He is the regional director of KS Innlandet and has close contact with those handling the strike. – What we also see is that municipalities strengthen health services, leisure facilities, libraries and other services for children and young people. The Education Association has announced that 300 new teachers will go on strike from Wednesday next week. NTB reports this on Friday morning. As a result, around 8,450 teachers will be on strike. This happens if the parties do not reach an agreement. Alternatively, danger to life and health can put an end to the strike. The conflict is then stopped by the compulsory wage board. KS RECEIVES REPORTS FROM THE MUNICIPALITIES: – The report of concern from the municipal superintendent in Gjøvik to the State Administrator shows that the situation is very serious for many children and young people. Photo: Pressefoto/KS – It is the State Administrators, and ultimately the government and the Storting, who assess whether it is so serious that the strike should end with a compulsory wage board, Skramstad writes in an e-mail to news. Minister of Education Tonje Brenna (Ap) met the parties today at 2 pm. National mediator Mats Wilhelm Ruland also met with the Minister of Education on Friday afternoon. Ruland states that he will contact the parties now after they have spoken to the minister. From what news understands, both the Minister of Knowledge and Tor Arne Gangstø from KS perceive today’s conversation as good. Steffen Handal from the Education Association stated after the meeting that nothing had been put forward that could contribute to a solution to the conflict. The Ministry of Labor and Inclusion (AID) is responsible for following developments in labor disputes. They must also assess consequences for life and health, or other serious societal consequences. The communications department in AID states in an e-mail to news that the threshold for the authorities to intervene in a strike is very high. In that case, this will happen by the Minister of Labor bringing the matter before the Storting. What is a compulsory wage board? In the event of disagreement about a new or amended collective agreement, as a general rule, a free right to strike and lockout applies. Society and affected parties must basically put up with the disadvantages that a labor dispute brings with it. If the conflict leads to a danger to life and health or other serious damage to society, it may still be appropriate to intervene with a compulsory wage board. The compulsory wage board is adopted by the Storting by law or by the government by provisional arrangement in each individual case. The decision in the labor dispute is left to the National Wages Board, and the board’s ruling takes effect as a collective agreement between the parties. Since the first Wage Board Act was passed in 1952, approx. 150 labor disputes have ended with a decision on compulsory Wage Board. Source: https://www.nemndene.no/rikslonnsnemnda/om-rikslonnsnemnda/om-rikslonnsnemnda/
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The municipal superintendent in Gjøvik warns of suicidal thoughts and drug use among students in the teachers’ strike – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
