- The escalation of the strike will make it difficult for students and parents to start school. This is very unfortunate after two years of a pandemic, says KS Tor's employment director Arne Gangsø.
- A strike is a legal wage setting tool. But when teacher organizations decide to use it, they also have to take responsibility for the consequences, says Gangsø.
From Monday, 1322 members of the Educational Association will be on strike
- KS is pleased that we have agreed with LO, Unio, YS and Akademikerne on a good overall result in this year's salary settlement. When a solution emerges that is supported by all but three organizations, it is obvious that the scope for action is very limited. We have one collective agreement and one collective agreement for communes and counties, nothing separate for teachers.
More than 75 percent of the municipalities and counties took part in the June vote and all of them voted yes. 37 out of 40 unions in the municipal sector did the same.
- The solution takes care of the entire team in the municipal sector while taking steps to recruit and retain important expertise in the municipalities. It was a clear signal from Kommune-Norge. We agreed to provide all young fresh graduates with a substantial salary increase, up to NOK 36. Thousands of young, newly qualified teachers were therefore among the winners of this wage agreement, says Gangsø.
Instead, the educational association wanted to prioritize teachers with the longest education, seniority and salary. They will receive their own allowances applicable from 2023. Most of the lecturers with the longest education and seniority will receive well over NOK 700 of their annual salary, including bonuses for the position and function, after settlement of the salary.
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The municipal sector's own data show that teachers did not experience worse development wages than all employees covered by central wage negotiations, for which KS is responsible. Teachers with education approved under the Education Act have had a total annual salary increase of 13,4% over the last five years. This is one tenth of percent less than for other employees.
– Good and attractive teacher training is important for KS and municipalities. We want more people with teaching qualifications to join schools. That's why we're working with the state and teachers' organizations to strengthen recruitment. The Education Association indicates that it is approximately 15 percent, according to Statistics Norway teachers There is no normal training for teachers in Norway, but the vast majority of them have the professional and pedagogical competences required by the Education Act. 96 percent of primary school teachers meet the strict competence requirements set out in the Education Act, says Gangsø.
Source: KS
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