Collective agreement
It’s definitely the smart thing to do
HK Norway gives you peace of mind at work
– and at home.
If you work in the private sector, HK Norway is the union for you. As one of LO’s largest unions, we have the negotiating power to secure fair pay, safe working conditions and good employment terms for our members.
With us, you are backed by a strong supporter who will stand by you with good advice and expert assistance. We’ll take your case – all the way to court if necessary.
You will also be covered by several great insurance policies and receive other outside work benefits through LOfavør.
Why
you should have a collective agreement
– It gives you more rights at work.
The Norwegian Working Environment Act is one of the best in the world, but the benefits it provides have not just appeared by themselves. They are the result of political influence and collective bargaining between the parties in the labour market. A collective agreement ensures safety, equality and fairness at work and gives you better employment rights than are provided by law.
The next page shows what differences a collective agreement can make for you.
Differences between having and not having a collective agreement
With a collective agreement
Working hours
You have a working week of 37.5 hours. Work in excess of this is paid at overtime rates.
Overtime pay
Public holiday pay
Overtime supplement of 50–100 per cent for work in excess of 37.5 hours per week.
When the law gives you time off on public holidays, you are guaranteed paid time off. If you have to work on these days, you are entitled to a supplement in addition to your ordinary pay.
Without a collective agreement
You have a maximum working day of 9 hours and a maximum working week of 40 hours. Only work in excess of this is paid at overtime rates.
Overtime supplement of 40 per cent for work in excess of 9 hours per day and 40 hours per week.
The law only entitles you to paid time off on 1 and 17 May.
Leave of absence
Short welfare leave, such as paid time off to accompany a child on their first day at nursery and school.
No entitlement to short welfare leave with pay.
Contractual pension (AFP)
With a collective agreement
AFP provides you with a lifelong pension and is a supplement to the retirement pension from the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme and the company’s mandatory occupational pension scheme (OTP).
Without a collective agreement
You are covered only by the retirement pension from the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme and the company’s mandatory occupational pension scheme (OTP).
Pay
You receive a guaranteed wage and you can agree higher pay locally with the company.
Pay supplements for evening, night and weekend work
Holiday and holiday pay
You have a guaranteed right to a pay supplement if you work in the evening, at night or at the weekend. You also receive a supplement for shift work, as well as a meal allowance.
There is no statutory minimum wage in Norway. You also have no entitlement to hold local pay negotiations.
The Norwegian Working Environment Act does not provide entitlement to any supplements of this kind.
Reorganisation and downsizing
5 weeks of holiday and 12 per cent holiday pay.
You are guaranteed co-determination through employee representatives who act on your behalf in discussions with the management.
4 weeks + 1 day of holiday and 10.2 per cent holiday pay.
You only have rights in the event of “mass redundancies”. Without elected representatives, however, you are on your own in this process.
The road to a collective agreement
With a collective agreement, you and your colleagues stand together in negotiations with the company management. You will receive annual pay increases, five weeks of holiday, higher overtime rates, a contractual pension (AFP) and greater influence over your own workplace.
How to get a collective agreement:
1 Talk to each other
Talk to your colleagues at work. Maybe there are others who think that a collective agreement could provide you with better working conditions?
2 Make contact with HK Norway
Get in touch with your nearest HK office. We are always ready to help and answer any questions you may have. It may be useful to choose one of you to act as a main contact person for us.
3 The more, the better
The more of you who are HK members, the stronger your claim for a collective agreement. Talk to your colleagues about the benefits of membership and collective bargaining.
Once there are enough of you, we can demand a collective agreement.
4
If your employer does not want to have a collective agreement
Sometimes an employer does not want to enter into a collective agreement, which can make the process a little longer. If the issue cannot be resolved by a mediator, strikes can be used as a last resort. It is very important in this situation for everyone to stand together and you will receive lots of help and support from us.
5 Once the collective agreement is in place
Now you need to elect your representatives. We provide courses and information for new employee representatives to help you make active use of the collective agreement. The first item on the agenda for the HK union branch is to check that the pay and working conditions are in line with the collective agreement. It is also important to ensure that all new employees join HK.
Join HK Norway here HK Norway here
Your membership benefits
There are lots of good reasons to be organized, on top of the collective agreement itself.
Safety and security at work
As a member of HK, you are not alone. You will receive free legal assistance in employment law cases such as non-payment of wages, unfair dismissal, and occupational injuries. We will help you to resolve conflicts and develop good working conditions at your workplace.
Support for courses and further education
Members have lots of opportunities for further education, professional certificates and scholar-
ships. After three years of membership, you can apply for up to NOK 50,000 in scholarships to pursue higher education at colleges or universities, for example.
Insurance policies:
LOfavør Contents Insurance
Norway’s best contents insurance. There is no upper insurance limit and all the contents and personal property in your home are covered.
LOfavør Leisure Time Accident Insurance
If you have an accident during your leisure time, you will receive support for treatment and financial assistance – wherever in the world the accident happened.
LOfavør Basic Insurance
Financial support can make a big difference when someone dies. So you and your family will receive a lump sum payment in the event of death, whatever the cause.
LOfavør Legal Insurance
Provides you with access to lawyers who can help you with legal issues, big or small. They will assist you until the case is resolved, nd you do not pay any hourly rate.
LOfavør also gives you great deals on mortgages and banking, offers on hotels, car rental, amusement parks, theatre and cultural experiences, and fantastic benefits for the house and home.
You can read more about your membership benefits here
Space for your own notes:
Regional offices
HK – East Region
Oslo og Akershus
Telephone +47 23 06 11 86
Email: ost@hk.no
HK – Central Norway Region
Møre og Romsdal, Trøndelag
Telephone +47 73 80 73 50
Email: midt.norge@hk.no
HK – West Region
Vestland
Telephone +47 55 55 71 00
Email: vest@hk.no
HK – Northern Norway Region
Nordland, Troms, Finnmark
Telephone +47 77 60 30 60
Email: nord.norge@hk.no
HK – Inland Region
Telephone +47 62 54 11 40
Email: innlandet@hk.no
HK – Eastern Norway South Region
Buskerud, Vestfold, Telemark og Østfold
Telephone: +47 33 30 04 80
Email: ostlandet.sor@hk.no
HK – Agder and Rogaland Region
Agder, Rogaland
Telephone +47 415 29 417
Email: agder.rogaland@hk.no
HK – Nationwide departments
Telephone +47 23 06 11 80
Email: post@hk.no
Address: Torggata 12, 6 etasje, 0181 Oslo
Address: Torggata 12, 6 etasje, 0181 Oslo
Telephone: +47 23 06 11 80
Telephone: +47 23 06 11 80
Email: post@hk.no
Email: post@hk.no
hk.no
hk.no
Revidert: LO Media april 2024