LO - Norway
2 This is LO
LO-NORWAY - NORWAY S LARGEST TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO-Norway) is Norway s largest and most influential workers organisation. LO has a strong position in the Norwegian society, and has strongly influenced society s development for more than 100 years. About 915 000 workers are affiliated to the 25 national unions which in turn are affiliated to LO. The affiliated unions are often vertically organised, including both blue and white collar workers, and cover both the private and the public sectors. About 50 per cent of LO s members are women. In some national unions, women make up three quarters of the membership. This is LO 3
ORGANISATION Local level All trade unionists in Norway belong to a local trade union branch or a local trade union which represents members interests at the local level. At all workplaces where there are LO members, local-level elected officers take on union work and represent the members vis-à-vis the employers. In about 130 communities, there are local-level LO organisations. These are the co-operative bodies of the local unions in municipalities or regions and LO s auxiliary bodies at the local level. They take up matters of common interest for union members and operate across professional and national union borders. The statutes for the activities of LO s local-level organisations are adopted by the LO Congress. National unions LO s national unions are national organisations composed of local trade unions. Each national union covers a specific trade, a branch of business, or a public service sector. 24 national unions are affiliated to LO. They vary in membership from less than one thousand to 350 000. In recent years, more unions have merged in order to achieve greater influence and provide better service to their members. LO s organisational structure is constantly reviewed and further developed. 4 This is LO
National unions affiliated to LO Norwegian United Federation of Trade Unions (FF) www.fellesforbundet.no Norwegian Engineers and Managers Association (FLT) www.flt.no Norwegian Union of General Workers (NAF) www.arbeidsmandsforbundet.no The Electrician and IT Workers Union (El & IT) www.elogit.no Norwegian Union of Social Educators and Social Workers (FO) www.fo.no Norwegian Prison and Probation Officers Union (NFF) www.fengselogfriomsorg.no Norwegian Union of Employees in Commerce and Offices (HK) www.handelogkontor.no Norwegian Union of Railway Workers (NJF) www.njf.no Norwegian Musicians Union (NM) www.musikerorg.no Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees (NUMGE) www.fagforbundet.no Norwegian Manualtherapist Association manuell.no National Union of Norwegian Locomotivemen (NLF) www.lokmann.no Norwegian Food and Allied Workers Union (NNN) www.nnn.no Norwegian Union of Military Officers (NOF) www.milnytt.no Norwegian Union of Industry and Energy Workers (IE) www.industrienergi.no Norwegian Union of Postal and Communication Workers (POSTKOM) www.postkom.org The Labour Press Union www.a-p-f.no Norwegian Seafarers Union (NSF) www.sjomannsunion.no Norwegian Union of School Employees (SL) www.skoleneslandsforbund.no Norwegian Civil Service Union (NTL) www.ntl.no Norwegian Transport Workers Union (NTF) www.transportarbeider.no Norwegian Players Association (NISO) www.niso.no Cockpit Association of Norway (NF) www.flyger.no Cabin Crew Union Norway www.kabin.no Writers Guild of Norway (WGN) www.dramatiker.no This is LO 5
Congress every four years LO s highest authority is Congress which meets every four years. Congress deals with annual reports and accounts and elects the top level leadership of LO. Congress debates and decides on the Programme of Action and on amendments to the Constitution and establishes LO s general course for the congress period. Congress comprises 315 delegates, 260 elected as delegates from LO s national unions, 40 elected from the trade union county organisations and the 15 members of LO s Executive Committee, elected by the previous Congress. Each of LO s national unions sends at least one delegate to Congress, the number of delegates being determined in proportion to the union membership. Each county also sends at least one delegate. 6 This is LO
Authorities between Congresses The General Council is LO s highest authority between congresses. The national unions decide on their representative(s) to the General Council, their number being dependent on the level of membership. National unions with less than 5 000 members are entitled to one representative. Each of the nineteen counties in Norway has a representative. The titular members of the Executive Committee are also members of the General Council. The General Council meets at least once a year to decide on accounts and reports. Among its tasks is further to decide on guidelines for LO s collective bargaining policy. The Executive Committee directs LO s activities and meets generally once a week. It consists of 15 members and 10 deputy members. The LO President, Vice Presidents and Secretary Treasurer are permanent members and have the right to vote. The other members are elected by Congress and are usually national union presidents. The deputy members participate in the meetings of the Executive Committee and have the right to speak and to submit proposals. The union of LO s clerical staff is also entitled to a representative on the Committee, with the same rights. This is LO 7
LO s LEADERSHIP The day-to-day work of LO is led by elected officers. They act on behalf of the organisation and members in negotiations with the employers and in contact with government bodies. LO s leadership consists of eight elected officers. From the left: Confederal secretary Are Tomasgard, second vice president Hans-Christian Gabrielsen, confederal secretary Trude Tinnlund, first vice president Tor-Arne Solbakken, president Gerd Kristiansen, first confederal secretary Peggy Hessen Følsvik, confederal secretary Terje O. Olsson and confederal secretary René Rasmussen. 8 This is LO
Congress The General Council The Executive Commitee LO s Leadership National unions Local trade unions Workplace organisations Members Cartels LO state LO municipal This is LO 9
A WIDE SPHERE OF INTEREST All aspects of society are the sphere of action and interest of LO. LO is often consulted before the Government adopts its approach to social and economic matters. LO is represented in task forces and committees preparing and drafting legislation and reforms. Among the subjects of particular concern to LO are: combating unemployment decent work for all no social dumping social security and equal opportunities for all groups in society equal rights a safe and healthy working environment external environment international solidarity and co-operation Neither LO nor any of LO s national unions are affiliated to a political party. However, the trade union movement has objectives which can only be achieved through political resolutions. This means that the trade union movement must also work on the political front to ensure proper influence on behalf of members interests. Throughout its history, LO has maintained a close relationship with the Norwegian Labour Party. The Labour Party is a social democratic party which builds on the same fundamental ideas as those held by the trade union movement. LO also has contacts with other political parties and interest groups demonstrating understanding for the views of the trade union movement. 10 This is LO
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INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY AND CO-OPERATION LO s strategy in its work for international solidarity, democracy and social equity is to contribute to building strong, representative, and democratic trade union organisations at the national, sectoral and local levels. The objective is to achieve and to consolidate democratic and socially equitable societies. 12 This is LO
While the overall objective of LO s international solidarity work remains the same, the changing international context suggests that LO will have to carry out this work at two levels. On the one hand, LO will have to continue its crucial direct support to national trade union movements in the form of organisational development (pressure from below). On the other hand, LO will have to increase its activities geared towards exerting international influence (pressure from above). Issues such as gender, AIDS/HIV, the environment, child labour, the situation of migrant workers, and human rights are important issues that must be addressed in all aspects of LO s international work. LO is actively involved in solidarity co-operation in Africa, Southeast Asia, Central America and the Middle East. During the past few years, it has been particularly important to support the Palestinian trade union movement, while also maintaining contacts with other trade union organisations in the region. A number of trade union organisations in Eastern Europe are also among LO s co-operating partners. LO-Norway takes an active part in international trade union cooperation through the Council of Nordic Trade Unions (NFS), the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). This is LO 13
AGREEMENT-BASED WAGES AND BENEFITS LO emphasises making union membership attractive and worthwhile. Through collective agreements the trade union movement secures equitable pay and working conditions for its members. Bargaining may be carried out nation-wide or industry/branchwide. LO s General Council decides whether negotiations are to be carried out centrally or by national branch organisations. The wage settlement period has always been two years, allowing for wage renegotiations for the second year. This adds to LO s position even in more general policy formation. The wage formation is regarded as an important element in the economic policy process. Having the power to co-ordinate and create guidelines for the development of wages at a macro level, the social partners are players to every government in Norway. There is no statutory minimum wage in Norway, but wage agreements may contain pay minima. To raise the wages of the low paid and to obtain equal pay between women and men are important concerns in LO s bargaining policy. Not only wage terms are determined in the wage agreements. The collective agreements contain a variety of agreement-based benefits for unionised workers. For example: Workers employed in enterprises with a collective agreement have an additional agreement-based pension from 62 years onwards. The ordinary working hours are 37.5 hours a week according to LO agreements. Statutory maximum working hours are 40 hours a week. 14 This is LO
LO MEMBERS ENJOY A NUMBER OF ADVANTAGES 1 Agreement-based pay and overtime 2 Supplement for inconvenient hours 3 Agreement-based working hours 4 Agreement-based pension (AFP) 5 A right to compassionate leave 6 A right to educational leave 7 A right to more holiday and more holiday pay 8 Support in case of strike and lock-out 9 Free advice from elected union representatives 10 Free legal advice in case of labour disputes 11 The possibility to influence one s own working conditions 12 Influence on conditions of work and pay 13 Free trade union journal 14 The possibility to apply for LO s educational scholarships 15 The LO Favour Arrangement which offers members a number of exclusive membership advantages in several fields such as banking and insurance services 16 Household contents insurance 17 Life and disability insurance 18 Insurance against accidents during working hours 19 Trade union training free of charge 2o And not least: LO s support! This is LO 15
Foto: Trond Isaksen. Print: Oslo Kongressenter. 06/2016. 500 Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions Youngs gate 11, NO-0181 Oslo Phone: +47 23 06 10 00 E-mail: lo@lo.no www.lo.no