Tough negotiations. The agreement was reached after a strike movement with a high turnout in the companies concerned and the threat of another wave of work stoppages, which “is quite rare in Norway.” The negotiators were relieved. “The strike is definitely over for private customers and businesses” rejoiced Bjørg Ravlo Rydsaa, leader of the KS Bedrift employers’ organization, which represents the 130 companies in the energy industry, the private sector and the towns. For their part, unions, through Sølvi Thomassen, in charge of bargaining for Fagforbundet, think that the fear of escalation helped with the negotiations’ outcome. Unions were protesting against KS Bedrift’s proposals, which they deemed ‘shameful’ especially since they were far from the guidelines included in a central agreement. The trade unions had three priorities in these negotiations:
were relieved. “The strike is definitely over for private customers and businesses” rejoiced Bjørg Ravlo Rydsaa, leader of the KS Bedrift employers’ organization, which represents the 130 companies in the energy industry, the private sector and the towns.
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