Another week of the strike. These routes are feeling the workers' protest most severely
The strike on Norway's railways has now entered its 11th day and has been extended for another week. The breakdown of mediation between the Norwegian Locomotive Drivers' Union (NLF) and the employers' organization Spekter means further disruptions for passengers. Operator Vy is cancelling dozens of services. The biggest changes concern the Oslo area.
It is another week of problems on Norway's railways.
Fot. Mads Kristiansen/materiały prasowe Vy
The protest continues to affect the daily operation of trains. Following the failure of mediation, no date has been set for further talks, so passengers must prepare for further timetable changes. The parties remain in dispute. Pay is the main point of conflict, but the union also points to issues concerning working hours and days off.
Dozens of services cancelled. Oslo faces the biggest disruptions
The scale of cancellations is significant. On the Stabekk–Ski route, 36 departures have been cancelled, making it one of the largest restrictions introduced in connection with the ongoing protest. Changes have also affected other lines. On the Spikkestad–Lillestrøm service, 22 trains have been cancelled, while half of the scheduled trains will not run on the Asker–Kongsvinger route.
The strike is a legal labour dispute. At the same time, as of 29 September, the parties had not agreed on a date to return to negotiations, making it difficult to restore regular train services. Spekter says it is ready for talks. However, the deadlock continues, and Vy passengers still need to check changes affecting their connections.
The strike is a legal labour dispute. At the same time, as of 29 September, the parties had not agreed on a date to return to negotiations, making it difficult to restore regular train services. Spekter says it is ready for talks. However, the deadlock continues, and Vy passengers still need to check changes affecting their connections.
Employer representatives claim that railway workers are demanding excessively large pay rises.Photo: Adobe Stock, standard licence
Pay divides the parties. New proposal rejected
Finances remain at the heart of the dispute. Spekter claims that NLF's demands would mean pay rises three times higher than those negotiated by other workers in the country. The organization also presented earnings data. According to Spekter, locomotive drivers' average annual salary was nearly NOK 950,000 before the negotiations, and the offer would have increased it to around NOK 1 million.
NLF rejects the employers' accusations. Rolf Ringdal of NLF says the conflict could have been avoided if the employer had taken responsibility for resolving it. Last weekend, the parties were in contact again, and Vy presented a new settlement proposal. The union did not accept it, citing the risk of reduced pay for some employees and the lack of satisfactory arrangements regarding working hours and days off.
NLF rejects the employers' accusations. Rolf Ringdal of NLF says the conflict could have been avoided if the employer had taken responsibility for resolving it. Last weekend, the parties were in contact again, and Vy presented a new settlement proposal. The union did not accept it, citing the risk of reduced pay for some employees and the lack of satisfactory arrangements regarding working hours and days off.
NLF is now announcing the possibility of expanding the protest. Rolf Ringdal said that a decision on escalating the strike is expected to be made later this week. No date has yet been set for the next round of negotiations.
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