Why you should join a trade union - Fellesforbundet
Why you should join a trade union - Fellesforbundet
Why you should join a trade union - Fellesforbundet
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Leisure accident insurance (covers accidents thatoccur during <strong>you</strong>r spare time, including medicaland dental costs, as well as treatment and staysat private hospitals and clinics by pre-agreementwith the insurance company).Basic insurance (covers <strong>you</strong>, spouses/partnersand resident unmarried children below the ageof 21 upon death regardless of the reason andanywhere in the world).Membership gives <strong>you</strong> Norway’s best house andcontents insurance and discounts on insurances,travel, power, car repairs, etc. through LO favor.For more information call +47 815 32 600 or goto www.lofavor.no.Watch out!As a foreign worker, the likelihood of <strong>you</strong> beingcheated by <strong>you</strong>r employer is unfortunately high.<strong>Fellesforbundet</strong> has helped thousands of foreignmembers claim back unpaid wages, and helpedwith accident compensation and tax-related matters.We have extensive experience of the mostcommon problems <strong>you</strong> are likely to encounter,and our website provides answers to a wide rangeof questions:- Am I entitled to the same pay as those employedby the company I have been contracted to?- What <strong>should</strong> I do if I have an accident at work.Am I entitled to compensation?- How do I claim wages and holiday pay if theemployer has not paid me?- What documentation do I need to claim paymentfrom the employer?- Can I claim wages and holiday pay from the employer’scontractor, if the employer has not paid me?- What happens if I work illegally?- <strong>Why</strong> <strong>should</strong> I be careful when registering as selfemployed?- How many hours can I work, and when are <strong>you</strong>entitled to overtime pay?You can also <strong>join</strong> <strong>Fellesforbundet</strong> from our website.<strong>Why</strong> <strong>you</strong> <strong>should</strong><strong>join</strong> a <strong>trade</strong> <strong>union</strong>– important information if <strong>you</strong>work in NorwayIn Norway over half of all employeesbelong to a <strong>trade</strong> <strong>union</strong>. <strong>Why</strong>?By belonging to a <strong>trade</strong> <strong>union</strong> workers in Norwayhave achievedCountries with weak <strong>trade</strong> <strong>union</strong>s also have weakemployees. Joining a <strong>trade</strong> <strong>union</strong> gives the individualworker security, and contributes to a saferand better working life for everyone else.We know from experience that foreign workershave a higher risk of work-related accidents, andof not receiving the pay they are entitled to. As aforeign worker <strong>you</strong> need a <strong>trade</strong> <strong>union</strong> – and weneed <strong>you</strong>!<strong>union</strong>, for both <strong>you</strong>r and <strong>you</strong>r fellow workers’for as a foreign worker in Norway.www.fellesforbundet.no/In-English/Engelsk
What is a <strong>trade</strong> <strong>union</strong>?A <strong>trade</strong> <strong>union</strong> is a confederation of workers fromthe same <strong>trade</strong>, profession or industry, who have<strong>join</strong>ed forces to promote their interests to the employers.In companies where the workers are part(regulated in a so-called collective agreement),and can elect representatives to represent them andto negotiate with the company on their behalf. The<strong>trade</strong> <strong>union</strong> provides support when required.Who can <strong>join</strong> a <strong>trade</strong> <strong>union</strong>?Anyone working in Norway can be a member,whether employed in a Norwegian or foreigncompany, and whether they are Norwegian orforeign citizens. <strong>Fellesforbundet</strong> (Norwegian UnitedConfederation of Trade Unions) has thousands ofmembers from countries other than Norway.How is a <strong>trade</strong> <strong>union</strong> organised?Trade <strong>union</strong>s are democratic organisations run bypeople who have been elected by their members.Trade <strong>union</strong>s in Norway are organised into differentconfederations. One of these is <strong>Fellesforbundet</strong>(Norwegian United Federation of Trade Unions).We organise people working in construction,industry, farming, hotels, restaurants and a numberof other areas.<strong>Fellesforbundet</strong> is a member of LO (the NorwegianConfederation of Trade Unions), which is Norway’sbiggest confederation of <strong>trade</strong> <strong>union</strong>s. They havea total of approx. 900 000 members, and around65 000 local shop stewards in companies, whichhave been elected by the workers themselves.The <strong>union</strong>s and LO negotiate with the employerorganisations on pay, working conditions, holidayand other terms. Some of the terms later becomelegal requirement. Union members therefore havea great responsibility to shape how working life inNorway will be, also for non-members.Workplacebranch.MemberLO(22 associations)<strong>Fellesforbundet</strong>Local <strong>trade</strong><strong>union</strong>Workplacebranch.Workplacebranch.What is a collective agreement?A collective agreement is an agreement between theemployees’ and employers’ organisations. In Norway,collective agreements are national. A collectiveagreement entitles <strong>you</strong> to better terms than the industrystandard for e.g. pay for public holidays, right tomore holiday and holiday pay, more overtime payand better pension schemes. An agreement also providesgreater freedom to agree working hours that aremore suitable for long distance commuters than thosedictated by law. Here are some of the differences:What type of salary are <strong>you</strong> entitled to?In some industries the minimum provisions of thecollective agreement have been made generallyapplicable, i.e. become legal requirement. The agreedminimum wage applies to everyone working in theindustry, whether they are members of a <strong>union</strong> or not,and whether nationals or foreign.When the <strong>trade</strong> <strong>union</strong> negotiates towards higher pay,the legal minimum wage also increases. In 2010,AreaPayNon-members without collective agreement(only Norwegian law applies)No rules20,000 Norwegians, Lithuanians and Polish constructionworkers went on strike to increase the minimumwage, which rose from 133 to 149 kroner perhour. It later increased even further.web site www.fellesforbundet.no/In-English/Trade <strong>union</strong>s are not solicitors!Trade <strong>union</strong>s are not set up in order to make money,but to support members when required. The peoplewho work in the <strong>union</strong>s are workers themselves,elected by their colleagues to represent them.You cannot buy insurance once <strong>you</strong>r house has burneddown. Equally, <strong>you</strong> cannot expect a <strong>trade</strong> <strong>union</strong> to assistWhen <strong>you</strong> <strong>join</strong> a <strong>trade</strong> <strong>union</strong> <strong>you</strong> become part of a will help <strong>you</strong>. If <strong>you</strong> are fortunate enough to avoidproblems, <strong>you</strong> will be helping to ensure that thoseMembers of a companywith a collective agreementAgreed salary terms – including minimumwage. Right to annual local negotiations.Working hours 9 hours per day/ 40 hours per week 7.5 hours per day/ 37.5 hours per weekExtra pay for week-ends and nights No extra pay Agreed extra payPublic holiday pay Only 1 and 17 May are paid All public holidays are paid Terms of the Company Act and Working Environment Act Agreements and terms for membersUnfair dismissal No help, <strong>you</strong> have to get <strong>you</strong>r own solicitor Holiday 4 weeks and 1 day, 10.2% holiday pay 5 weeks, 12 % holiday payTrainingNo supportSupport from fund. Own training organisation.Union organises courses and conferenceswho do need help get it. This is solidarity: It worksfor us as individuals, and for all of us together.What does it cost to be a member?The fee for <strong>Fellesforbundet</strong> (Norwegian UnitedFederation of Trade Unions) is between 1.5 and2.2 percent of gross salary, depending on whichlocal <strong>trade</strong> <strong>union</strong> <strong>you</strong> belong to. In reality <strong>you</strong> payslightly less as part of the fee is tax deductible.Membership includes a number of insurance andAs a member, the most important insurance <strong>you</strong>have is the help <strong>you</strong> get if <strong>you</strong> have problems atwork. You also have a number of other insurances.All these apply during <strong>you</strong>r stay in Norway (butnot in <strong>you</strong>r home country if outside the Nordics).damage, break-ins and bicycle theft).