Break in the negotiations in the state: – The government has shown its true face – Dagbladet.no

(Dagbladet): An hour past midnight broke LO Stat negotiations with the government in this year’s main wage. Office mediator will now task to prevent strikes in the public sector.

– The Government has shown its true face in these negotiations. This is an assault on our members and their rights, says LO Stat leader Tone Rønoldtangen said.

Some hours earlier had Akademikerne signed an agreement with the state, where they agreed to move all wage setting out to local work places.

According Rønoldtangen demanded the state of the negotiations that the majority of wage determination shall be made in local negotiations without conflict right. It was one of the key points for LO-unions in the state, and therefore should not have been any real hope that the parties could reach agreement.

– There was an ocean of distance between us. We do not say no to that there may be some local negotiations, but where we asked for an additional 8,000 kroner central state would only give 1500. It was too great a distance, to say the least, she says to Dagbladet.

– government creates discord

LO Stat also responds that the state signed an agreement with Akademikerne, calling it a provocation.

– I put a big question mark over that government is doing this now. It has always been an important principle for the state with four similar agreements. This agreement with Akademikerne is a break with tradition, she says.

– The Government helped to find a solution in the industry settlement. It is the same government that now splits up and create discord between organizations in the state. It is incomprehensible, she says to Dagbladet.

Head in the Norwegian Civil Service Union (NTL), John Leirvåg, said the deal “sends the state into total chaos.”

– The state ruled against a consensus with Akademikerne to use this against us. It’s divide and conquer. I expect that the government takes the wits, and ensures an orderly process, he says LO-owned free trade union movement.

Intensive negotiations

The wage settlement in the state started on April 14 and were given until midnight – Saturday night. There have been intensive negotiations in recent days, but the parties could persuade them to reach an agreement before the deadline.

Unio chose to break off the negotiations with the state at 3:00 tonight.

– The offer from the state was unacceptable in terms of lack of bargaining on pensions. In addition, the economic profile and proposed new wage system for the poor, says chief negotiator Uniontown State, Petter Aaslestad in a statement.

Dagbladet has been in contact with Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, which is currently not have a comment.

– We worked hard to conclude agreements with all four confederations in the state, but it was impossible. We apologize, however, says the state personnel director Gisle Norheim in a statement.

The Government reports that the reason why the parties have not reached agreement included the large distance on the distribution of the established framework. Moreover rejected state confederations’ claim negotiations involving public service.

– We are pleased that we reached agreement with Akademikerne but deeply regrets that it was not possible to reach agreement with the other parties. These settlements now goes to mediation, says Norheim.

A conciliation in the state will start within the next week and a possible conflict could come into force in late May. The parties have agreed mediation deadline May 25 at 24, NTB reported.