Transport workers were among some 150,000 workers who braved the snow in Norway this week to voice their opposition to a new European temporary workers’ directive. The directive could strip away employment rights that are enshrined in Norwegian law.
ITF affiliated unions – including the Norwegian Transport Workers’ Union, the Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees, the Norwegian United Federation of Trade Unions and the Union of Employees in Commerce and Offices – participated in a national strike on 18 January against the government’s plan to adopt the European Union Temporary and Agency Workers Directive. They fear that the move could promote the use of contract workers, forcing out permanent employees and weakening union rights and collective agreements.
Rallies were held across Norway – from Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim to Kristiansand, Stavanger and Haugesund.
In Oslo, some 3000 workers gathered at a rally addressed by Roger Hansen from the Norwegian Transport Workers’ Union. He said that they could not accept a directive that would increase the use of temporary staff and contract labour. “It’s against the fundamental values of the trade union movement,” claimed Hansen.
Meanwhile, approximately 500 kilometres away in Trondheim, Per Østvold, from the same union, told protestors that temporary arrangements “undermine employment protection, trade unions, collective agreements and our dignity.”
Watch a clip of Labour Party representative Annette Trettebergstuen attempting to explain why her party is supporting the directive
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