– There is deep frustration. We feel that we are not progressing because NHO wants a process that leads to cuts in sick pay, says deputy chairman of LO Steinar Krogstad to news. It concerns the negotiations on a new Inclusive Working Life Agreement (IA Agreement), which is scheduled to be completed in November. WILL PROTECT THE SICK PAY SCHEME: LO’s Steinar Krogstad will not look at new arrangements for the sick pay scheme. Photo: Trond Isaksen/LO This agreement applies to almost all workplaces in Norway, and aims to reduce sickness absence. The fact that Norway has now recorded the highest sickness absence in 15 years has created a lot of debate and has led to increased tension around the negotiations on a new IA agreement. The sick pay scheme, which ensures that we are entitled to full pay in the event of illness from the first day of illness and up to one year, has become a target in the negotiations. – We do not open any doors regarding the benefits, says Krogstad. Threatening to drop the IA agreement, NHO, for its part, has asked that a closer look be made at the benefits, i.e. how much money is in the sick pay scheme, and how they affect Norwegian sickness absence. – We have said that if you are not willing to discuss all aspects of sick leave and what tools are needed, including sick pay, then we will not sign a new IA agreement, says the director of working life and collective bargaining at NHO, Nina Melsom. Nina Melsom in NHO. Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen / NTB scanpix She questions why LO is so concerned about an investigation into the sick pay scheme: – Seen from LO’s point of view, if they think the current scheme is so good, why are they so afraid to enter in such a discussion?, asks Melsom. Managing director of the employers’ organization Spekter, Anne-Kari Bratten, believes that LO’s move puts the IA agreement in jeopardy. – If one of the parties to this agreement sets ultimate demands in the negotiations, then you may end up with no IA agreement, says Bratten. Bratten calls the leak of the LO letter to the press a breach of trust. Photo: Thomas T. Kleiven This could lead to the Storting alone deciding the structure of the sick pay scheme, which Bratten believes is unfortunate: – It is a real loss for the Norwegian model and tripartite cooperation, says Bratten to news. Sent letters But the employee organizations are quite clear about their demands. YS, Akademikerne, LO and Unio have now sent a joint letter to Labor Minister Tonje Brenna (Ap). They write, among other things: “Ensuring that the sick pay scheme is still fixed in the agreement for the next four years is an absolute requirement from us.” Should there be no new IA agreement, LO is afraid that the entire sick pay scheme will be at stake. And that is precisely what LO fears will happen, if the government opens an investigation, as NHO requests. The employee organizations want a new four-year IA agreement, which preserves the current sick pay scheme. In that case, it will mean that a possible change of government cannot affect the scheme for the first four years. Brenna: – Good with disagreement Labor Minister Brenna tells news that it is out of the question to cut the sick pay scheme in a way that causes more insecurity for people, but will not comment on the demands the employee organizations make in the letter to her. – What do you think of this letter from LO and others that this must be fixed in the scheme? – We are now negotiating a new IA agreement. There, the parties have slightly different views and mean different things. But we have one thing in common, namely that we are concerned with reducing absenteeism. – But such an investigation as is mentioned from the NHO, do you agree with such an investigation? – Regardless of how you formulate that question, I’m not going to speculate on what we agree or disagree on, or say anything about it in public. - So you do not agree with the employee organizations that the agreement should apply for four years? - It was the fifth way of formulating the same question. And the answer is still the same. We continue the negotiations. Brenna will also not comment on what she thinks about the internal dispute between LO and NHO. - But there are two steep fronts here. Do you want to take any extra measures to be able to move them a little closer together? - That there are strong opinions on all sides of the table, I think is very good. We are well used to that. So I am confident that we will continue to discuss this and arrive at good solutions. Støre does not rule out other models Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre tells news that he has full confidence that Brenna knows what she is doing, and that she does it in a wise way. He describes Brenna as his “very trusted representative”. The IA agreement is important if it contributes to achieving the goals we set, and can give us renewed energy and direction for that work, says Prime Minister Støre to news. Photo: Jorunn Hatling / news Støre does not rule out that it may be relevant to look at other types of models. – I think they must look at models that can be effective and that the parties can accept together. That’s what I want to say. And then I trust that they take the time to do good reviews. – How important is it to have an IA agreement? – It is important if it contributes to achieving the goals we set, and can give us renewed energy and direction for that work. Published 11.10.2024, at 15.05 Updated 11.10.2024, at 16.09
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– There is deep frustration – news Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country
