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– It’s early, and there are still many hours until the deadline. At this stage, the distance is natural. All the requirements have not yet been discussed, national mediator Mats Wilhelm Ruland told NTB on Saturday morning.
He says there is a great distance between the parties, who met around 8.30am on Saturday to try to reach an agreement.
– Today we have several difficult points on the agenda, there is no doubt about that, says Ruland.
– Very serious
Ruland notes that mediation is characterized by technical requirements that are important to the parties. It also says about finances, he emphasizes.
3,800 bus drivers in eastern Norway may be on strike as of Sunday. Illustration photography: Cornelius Poppe / NTB
– It is difficult this year due to the economic context with a serious financial crisis, and it is not easy to find good solutions on which the parties agree. Transportation is an industry that is hard hit financially, Ruland says.
It says that the situation could become “very serious” for bus traffic if the parties do not agree within the deadline.
– A big strike has been called. If there is a conflict, this can be very serious because there will be buses that do not work, especially in eastern Norway, but also in the rest of the country.
3,800 drivers
Together with other LO and YTF unions, Fellesforbundet has sent a notice of resignation to all organized drivers in Oslo and Viken. The first strike is 3,800 drivers.
– There is greater danger of strikes than in a long time, Fellesforbundet has stated.
NHO Transport negotiates on behalf of employers. The mediation deadline is midnight on Sunday night, and if they do not agree, there will be a strike starting Sunday, September 20.
Rapid escalation alerts
Fellesforbundet is clear that the 3,800 riders who are eliminated for the first time are just the beginning.
– If we get to the point where we have to expand, we will quickly step forward. We have a total of more than 10,000 drivers that we can strike. In that case, it will stop all bus traffic in Norway, says Federal Secretary Dag-Einar Sivertsen.
The Ombudsman, Ruland, says he is optimistic about being able to reach an agreement before the deadline.
– We can solve this, but I don’t think it will be easy. Here, as in all other mediations, there is a real danger of conflict, he says.
