More than 200 employees at 48 various retail stores around Norway are out on a strike over pay issues that soon may spread to more stores. The strike started over the weekend, after employers’ organization NHO failed to secure a new labour agreement with trade union organization Handel og Kontor (HK).
The strike is mostly affecting selected jewelry stores, butcher shops, flower shops and bakeries. At issue are pay scales, with HK demanding that retail members of NHO offer the same wages and benefits as the other main employers’ group in the retail sector, Virke.
Trine Lise Sundnes of HK said that NHO “must understand that they can’t steer wage development along.” No new negotiations are scheduled and Sundnes said the strike will expand to more shops from Wednesday.
newsinenglish.no staff
