News

Norwegian unions carried out nationwide political strike action for two hours on Wednesday in protest of the government’s proposed changes to the Working Environment Act.

The strike, which saw around 1.5 million Norwegian workers walk off the job, brought normal life grinding to a halt in the Scandinavian country and affected everything from schools and childcare services to public transport and air travel.

Unions say the proposed law changes will lead to fewer full-time jobs, longer shifts, more compulsory overtime and frequent weekend work. This includes a push for Sunday shop opening hours. The strike has received broad-based support in Norwegian society including in the Lutheran church where pastors will join industrial action for the first time in history.

UNI Global Union General Secretary Philip Jennings said, “From the south to the north of Europe, people are taking a stand. In Greece, people stood against austerity and the wilful destruction of institutions aimed to care, educate and bring decent work.”

“Today, the people of Norway have fired their own warning. They see the Nordic model as something worth fighting for. Norway is a country with full employment, one of the world’s most competitive economies and some of the happiest people in the world.

“But once again arrogant political overreach threatens to undermine all of this. This industrial action is another sign of the people of Europe standing up for a fair and just society."