Recently, several cases of union crushing have been revealed. Some of these have been that bonuses and other benefits do not benefit the trade unions. But when the biases are highlighted and criticized, companies have come up with better ideas. The electricity purchase chain is one such example. And now the management of the Tess group is also bending over.
“Tess wants to take care of our most important resource, our employees, and raises the bonus conditions and other benefits for the trade unions up to the level of other employees,” says top manager Erik Jølberg in an e-mail. But this would hardly have happened, had it not been for the online newspaper E24 revealing the conditions in the company. Tess is Norway’s largest supplier of industrial hoses and has 1100 employees in this country. E24 can also tell that the complete turnaround came after pressure from large customers of Tess.
Such a skewed distribution is and will be union crushing.
We dare to remind you that Tess owner and founder Erik Jølberg first argued strongly that it should pay to be disorganized in his company. In internal Tess writings, it has become clear that trade union organization will, among other things, mean that all bonuses will disappear, that visits to the dentist and doctor will not be covered and that health insurance will lapse.
Such a skewed distribution is and will be union crushing. At the same time, one of the bonus schemes entails an erosion of the statutory scheme with full pay during illness. An absence day gives a deduction of NOK 1,500 in a possible attendance bonus.
[ Statsminister Støre har en opposisjon på begge sider av seg. ]
Although the management in both Elkjøp and Tess has now formally reversed, there has hardly been a change in attitude towards the trade union movement in the top managers’ heads. Therefore, this battle is not won at all, and we must be prepared for new setbacks. We have probably only seen the tip of an iceberg. The trade union movement obviously has a challenge. But politicians and responsible employers should also know their visiting hours.
There seems to be a need to strengthen both the legislation and the main agreement for working life in order to avoid the differential treatment that has been the practice in Elkjøp and Tess. The Norwegian model of society is threatened. The model presupposes a high degree of organization, both among employees and employers.
[ Direktørtroll sprekker i sola. ]
The Labor Party / Sp government is exemplary in doubling the tax deduction for trade union dues. This amount has unfortunately stood still at 3850 kroner during Erna Solberg’s reign. The deduction has therefore decreased in value, since it has not been adjusted upwards in line with the wage increase in these eight years.
Minister of Trade and Industry Jan Christian Vestre (Labor Party) is an example to follow. As top manager in the furniture manufacturer Vestre, he has encouraged the employees to be organized.
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