This is what you need to know about strikes: 16 questions and answers

Will I be paid when I go on strike? Find out the answers to your questions about going on strike in Norway

Strike is a form of industrial action that can be used in pay bargaining.

In a strike, employees stop performing all or parts of their work.

1. Who goes on strike?

Many people in Norway are members of trade unions. Unions are organisations for employees within a trade or an industry. Trade unions works to secure good pay and working conditions for their members.

Only members of the unions that have given notice that they intend to go on strike will stop work.

Employees who are not unionised or are members of other trade unions do not go on strike.

2. How do I know if I have been called out on strike?

Employees who have been called out on strike will have been notified.

If you have not been notified you must go to work as usual.

3. I am an apprentice. Can I be called out on strike?

As a general rule, apprentices do not take part in industrial action, according to the agreement between LO (employees) and NHO (employers).

4. Will I be paid during the strike?

No, you will not be paid if you are on strike.

You will instead receive strike pay from your union.

Strike pay is not taxed but is not included when holiday pay is calculated.

Your union decides how much you will receive.

5. During a strike, what will happen to equipment that I have use of?

Employees that are on strike must return cars, keys, mobile phones and computer equipment belonging to their employer.

6. What happens if I am travelling on company service when the strike breaks out?

If you are on a course or other travel on company service when the strike breaks out, you will not be entitled to a per diem allowance unless specifically agreed.

In the event of a strike it is standard practice to agree that a journey that has started can be completed and that the cost of the return journey will be covered by the employer.

7. What will I do if I am called out on strike?

If you are called out on strike you must expect to have to go on picket duty.

The trade union will draw up picket rotas and arrange meetings during the strike.

8. Do I have cover under occupational injury insurance during a strike?

If you are on strike, you will not be covered under occupational injury insurance.

If you have insurance cover for leisure time through your union, it will continue to apply during the strike.

9. What is strikebreaking?

Strikebreaking is doing the work of an employee who has been called out on strike.

This could involve another employee taking over the duties of the striking employee. Or an employee going to work even though he or she is on strike.

Employees who are not on strike must not perform anything other than their normal duties.

It is generally thought that managers can take over the duties of employees during a strike, but it is not clear where the boundaries go.

Strikebreaking is not against the law in Norway, but it is widely considered to be very disloyal.

10. Can I take holiday time off during a strike?

According to the Holidays Act, holidays must be taken in accordance with the usual rules, even during a strike.

This also applies to the payment of holiday pay.

A strike does not give an employer the right to change the timing of holidays.

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11. Will I receive sick pay if I am on sick leave during the strike?

If you were signed off sick by a doctor before the strike started, you will receive sick pay from Nav (Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration).

If you are on self-certified sick leave when the strike starts, you do not have the right to sick pay.

The same applies if you are signed off sick by a doctor after the strike starts.

If you are still on sick leave when the strike ends, you will be entitled to sick pay from your employer or Nav starting on the day work resumes.

12. I am on paid leave. Will this continue even if a strike is called?

If you were on paid leave before the conflict started, you will not be affected by the strike.

13. Can I be laid off because of a strike?

Yes, you can be laid off as a consequence of a strike in the company you work for as well as because of a strike in another company.

These are the most important rules that apply:

Strike in the company you work for:

Employees who are not on strike can be laid off during a strike if they are no longer able to work in a useful way.

Strike in another company:

Employees who work for another company than the company affected by the strike may also be laid off if the company and the work done there are nevertheless affected by the strike.

Consultation requirement:

The company must discuss lay-offs with the employee representatives.

14. Am I entitled to pay if I am laid off as a consequence of a strike?

No. Personnel who are laid off because of a strike are not entitled to pay from their employer, according to the law

15. Am I entitled to unemployment benefit if I am laid off as a consequence of a strike?

If you are laid off because of a strike and your conditions of pay or employment are affected by the strike you will not be entitled to unemployment benefit from Nav.

If you are laid off because of the strike but do not derive any advantages from the outcome of the strike you will be entitled to unemployment benefit from Nav.

16. Am I entitled to unemployment benefit if I was laid off before the strike started?

Any employees who had already been laid off when the strike started will retain the right to unemployment benefit, according to an opinion given by LO’s legal team.

Other sources: LO, FriFagbevegelse’s dictionary of wage bargaining terms, Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees

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Translated by Robert Lovering