NHO open for strike solution – VG

It is likely to get an initiative that can end the hotel strike. It gets VG confirmed in NHO.

So far there has been only dialogue and not specific attempts to find solutions to the three-week hotel strike.

Unions have signaled that they are ready, but they have not taken any initiative; they have rather enjoyed getting 2,500 new members during the strike.

It has been expected that there would be an initiative by PIL before Pentecost, to get ordinary hotel operation in an important weekend and not least to the 17th May.

But it has not come, and that in itself tells a lot about how far inside it sits to give up for the owners: They will simply not be involved in provide Fellesforbundet tariff right to local negotiations.

Learn more: Therefore say hotel owners no

It also recorded that the organizational level is so small that most hotels actually have managed to keep operations running.

Willing to seek compromise

But now it begins to approach the time to try.

VG has received information that the Norwegian Hospitality should be willing to seek a compromise that gives employees the right to negotiate wages with management once a year. But with a different package than “tariff-local bargaining.”

Here’s the solution-oriented principle that Norwegian Hospitality should be willing to assume:

** In the current collective agreement (national collective agreement) it is agreed that the local representatives are entitled to an annual conference, where one can discuss “corporate wage-setting.” There is a sleeping right, which are little used. Norwegian Hospitality Association envisions a solution that lies somewhere between this conference and a formal agreement on tariff local bargaining rights.

READY FOR DIALOGUE: CEO Kristin Krohn Devold in Norwegian Hospitality Association would not comment on the matter in VG.

Photo: Haakon Eltvik

– must understand the other’s fears

– we are willing to see if we can find practical solutions somewhere between these two poles. We believe it could provide a basis for a possible dialogue that might open to a solution, says a key source in the Norwegian Hospitality Association.

But this source says several times out clearly:

– Federation must understand that there is no industry that sits on the other side, but a completely different industry. We will simply have no industry model. It is now important to understand the other’s fears. It applies both ways, says the source.

scowl at each other

It underpins information VG have received from both sides in recent weeks: A major reason why conflict has been going for three weeks due to an ingrained skeptical counterpart. From both sides.

In LO is one exasperated because the hotel staff serving the poorest in the country and that they have had a very poor salary increases for many years. While several of the hotel owners are among the richest. It was clearly expressed earlier during the strike and May 1, when including LO leader Gerd Kristiansen attack Olav Thon and other billionaires.

Read: Olav Thon backfired

Skeptical

in the Norwegian Hospitality is one very skeptical that there’s Federation who sits on the other side of the table. There is a number of years ago the hotel and restaurant employees were part of the Industry Association Federation (2007).

But it is the first time the hotel and restaurant staff strikes under Fellesforbundet management: In Norwegian Hospitality is one terrified that it is the industry’s premises shall be implemented and that the Federation tries to three deals adapted guys on the floor down over the heads of cleaners.

– Different culture

A NHO source settings says:

– should we find a solution, must Fellesforbundet management know that there are vast differences in culture between industry and hotels / restaurants.

There is also pulled forward that opposition to local wage because the hotel owners are afraid that they must build up a local apparatus to organize bargaining: It will increase the administrative costs for an industry that is clear that they barely make money.

Read: Great Valley last stunt

there were internal meetings in the Norwegian Hospitality entire Saturday morning, where several of the chains made it clear that they live fine with the strike. Most people want a solution, but not at any price.

– Server soaring more

Organization The degree is also used as an argument Unions must understand. Especially in the restaurant business, it is visible. There are so few restaurants where employees are organized, that Fellesforbundet management sometimes have trouble finding restaurants to hold dinners for: They have to resort to some of the great restaurants that are affiliated with major hotels.

Read also: frames May 17

– the point is that at the neighboring restaurants so is no organized and employees earn almost nothing; their wages are largely dependent on tips from customers. In such a situation it is of course difficult if not impossible to get the owners to giving tariff wages, which despite the fact that it is the minimum wage, is soaring more than the unorganized get, say, a NHO source.

One and a half victory

Salary is the second theme there was conflict. Where it is believed it is possible to find solutions. In frontfag settlement industry, which earlier this spring let framework for this year’s settlement, the frame was 2.4 percent.

Sources of employers say Fellesforbundet claim was about double and they stretched to 3.4 percent.

an economic solution is therefore likely to end up somewhere between 3.4 and 4.8 percent, probably closer to 3.4.

When Federation will come out of a strike with half victory: they get blasted frame and improved wages and they get a kind of local wage formation.

– We are ready

It is suggested to VG can hope to come started formal dialogue next week, with a possible solution in the end of the week.

Information manager Vidar Grønli in Federation say they are ready.

– We are ready for dialogue to see if we can find a solution to the conflict.