It was in the Storting’s Question Time that Prime Minister Erna Solberg (H) was challenged by Labor Party leader Jonas Gahr Støre on how she views Wizz Air.
The airline wants to establish itself in earnest in the Norwegian market, but has met with strong opposition after the top manager has called trade unions childish, nationalist and protectionist.
– What signals does it send that we get an actor who has these attitudes and what will the Prime Minister do with this? asked the Labor leader.
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– I agree with Støre that the attitudes the Wizz Air boss has put forward in connection with the organization of working life are unfortunate. It is not in line with Norwegian society. It is fundamental that we have an organized working life. It is not the managers who decide this, it is the employees themselves, Solberg said, but continued.
– Wizz Air flies everything in Norway and of course has the opportunity to continue with it. But they must comply with Norwegian laws and regulations, and allow employees to organize. We expect them to comply with laws and regulations, Solberg answers.
Personal Erna boycott
Støre then came up with a challenge to Erna Solberg.
– Signals count. For my part, it will be important to say that it is inappropriate to fly in a company that does not allow employees to organize. What about the Prime Minister, will she fly in a company that does not have orderly working conditions for employees? Støre asks.
– No, I will not fly with a company that refuses to let workers organize. Like I’ve never flown with Ryanair. It’s been my practice for ten years, but it’s my private opinion. We as a state must comply with laws and regulations. If employees are denied the right to an employment contract, there will be a breach of Norwegian law, which must be pursued in their own channels, says Erna Solberg, before Støre followed up:
– Then the Prime Minister and I have clarified that we do not want to fly with this company. The Hungarian boss should take note.
– Up to consumers
FRP leader Siv Jensen noticed the exchange between the leaders of Norway’s two largest parties.
– It is quite obvious that all companies operating in Norway must follow Norwegian law. I registered that Erna will not use them for personal reasons, Jensen says to Dagbladet.
– Then it must be up to consumers to fly with the companies they want to fly with. I do not intend to interfere in it and be a moral chief judge, the FRP leader continues.
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– Do you think that Solberg takes on the role of moral chief judge?
– I noticed the line exchange between Erna and Jonas. Jonas has apparently intended to push this decision down the entire Labor Party together with the unions. Erna has not thought about it, but does not want to fly with them herself and points a moral index finger in the air. But the most important thing she said was not which companies she does not want to travel with, but that companies operating in Norway must follow Norwegian law.
Fly to the people
– And then it will not be possible to ban unions?
– For example. This also applies to Wizz Air, they must comply with Norwegian working conditions. It almost sounds like a boycott, it’s just nonsense. As long as Norwegian rules are followed, it is great with competition in the air so ordinary people have the opportunity to fly at a cheaper price than they would otherwise do. Especially if the alternative is monopoly, we have had tendencies to it in the air in the past. It was more expensive airline tickets then, Jensen answers.
The FRP leader suspects that there are also forces that will be happy to see Norwegian consumers get more expensive airline tickets.
– It is certainly something the MDGs will cheer for, that only the rich can afford to fly. I want ordinary people to have the opportunity to make that choice. For many, there is no alternative but to fly.
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