Big strike in Norway!
64.3% of the unionmembers voted no to the result of the negotiations,
and that is yes to strike.
On wednesday third of may the strike begins.
>
> The result of collective bargaining between the Confederation of trade
> unions in Norway and the largest employers organisation this spring is
> not welcome among a large part of the members of the unions. Today they
> have begun to vote the result, and during friday 28. april will the
> result be known. It is negative the strike will start on wednesday third
> of may.
>
> The result of the bargaining was one more week of vacation and only 30
> cents more pay per hour. This is considerably less than expected, since
> the bosses have increased their wages a lot more.
>
> Another disappointment was that the funding of the agreement about life
> long education was not put in place. Everybody in Norway now has the
> right to leave their work for some time to get more education, whatever
> they want, up to three years, and then return and get their old position
> back. But the demand of the unions is that this leave should be paid.
> Both the trade unions, the government and the employers should pay. The
> government is willing to pay whatever it is. There is a large majority
> in parliament for this arrangement. But the trouble is that the
> employers are not willing to pay if they are not allowed to decide who
> is going to further education, and which kind of education.
>
> The strike is expected, and it is reported that the Norwegian currency
> is dropping on the bourses because of the expected strike. In two days
> we will know if there is a big strike. Because it is going to big since
> 45% of the workforce is organised in this confederation of labour
> unions.
>
I am just now reading Alain Touraine: "What is Democracy".
"-,working-class consciousness is at its highest when there is a direct
conflict between autonomous skilled workers and managerial methods that
are destroying their autonomy, incorporating them into an authoritarian
and centrally managed system of production and thus making them
dependent. What is known as the labour movement is made up of two
contradictionary forces: on the one hand, revolutionary socialism, which
seeks to take power in order to liberate oppressed workers and people,
and therefore usually establishes an authoritarian regime; on the other
hand, the true labour movement, which is based on the rights of workers
who contribute their skills, experience and labour to the process of
production. (page 92)
"Democracy does not triumph when political action prevails over social
struggle. On the contrary, it triumphs when class actors are defined in
such positive terms that they are in controll of political action and
can legitimize their actions in terms of basic rights and the
construction of a new citizenship." (page 93)
And I think that this idea of lifelong education is about the basic
right to create your own life according to your own liking.
--
All the best
Tor Førde
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
