The parties have confirmed that they will both attend the mediation meeting at 15.00 today. This is what the mediator Carl Petter Martinsen informs news at 11 o’clock on Thursday. He himself took the initiative to get NHO Luftfart and the Norwegian Aircraft Technician Organization (NFO) to the negotiating table, after almost a week of strikes among the aircraft technicians. NHO thinks the wage demand is “extreme” and has warned that they exclude all flight technicians in NFO from night to Sunday, a so-called lockout. – It is in short that this is a demanding conflict. I and the parties have the same interest in getting this resolved through mediation and negotiation. That is what is being tried, says Martinsen. Mediator Carl Petter Martinsen took the initiative for the meeting between the parties. Photo: Johan B. Sættem He does not know how long the mediation can last when they first sit down together with the Ombudsman. – We have an intention that we will get something done. I am forewarned of spending time on it myself, and I hope the parties are too, says Martinsen. Has initially given it a day He usually lives in Bergen, but came over the mountain on Thursday before dinner to mediate. – How many hotel nights have you booked? – I’ll basically just be there tomorrow. I am willing to spend the time necessary to make this happen, says Martinsen. – What is the goal? – To get the parties to enter into a collective agreement for the next two years. – The distance in claims and offers is between four and 60 kroner. How should they arrive at a solution? – I have no idea about that. Both parties must be willing to come to mediation, hopefully without getting through for everything they want. This applies to all mediation. – NHO must show real willingness to negotiate – As always in mediation, we have a hope for a positive result, writes Torbjørn Lothe, CEO of NHO Luftfart, in an SMS to news. – We expect that NHO must show real willingness to negotiate and move in the direction of our demand if we are to get a solution to the conflict, writes leader of the aircraft technician organization, Tor Skogseth in an SMS. Central board member of NFO Øystein Eliassen says the negotiations so far have been the least constructive he has ever been involved in. – The meeting today will in a way be a start-up meeting. I will be very surprised if we manage to find a final solution today. I think it’s too complex for that. Some will be present, so I hope we find a solution before Sunday. – Can you say something about how far NHO must go on pay for a solution? – No, I do not want to go into the details. We take that in mediation. Will avoid danger to life and health If the mediation does not succeed and there is a lockout on Sunday, the question is whether the government will soon break in with a forced wage board. If aircraft technicians working with Babcock ambulance aircraft are seen on the ground, there may be danger to life and health. The flight technicians have said they will ask for an exemption for Babcock workers, but this is what the airline itself must do. They have asked for an assessment from the Norwegian Board of Health to what extent a lockout will lead to danger to life and health. The Authority informs news that they will send their assessments to the Ministry of Health and Care Services towards the end of Thursday, and do not wish to comment on the content as long as the conflict continues.
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The parties in the air strike meet for mediation at 3 pm – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
