Bus strike creates headaches for commuters – NRK Norway – Summary of news from different parts of the country

Fellesforbundet and Yrkestrafikkforbundet announce that another 4,500 drivers will be eliminated on Saturday.

The climb includes all drivers from Vestland, Trøndelag, Rogaland and Finnmark counties. Additionally, bus drivers in parts of Nordland and Agder will stop working, according to the Professional Traffic Association.

If the parties do not agree before Saturday, a total of 8,500 drivers across the country will be on strike.

Apart from the continuous shielding of medical transport and the airport, no exceptions will be granted.

– Bus drivers have very demanding working hours, wages are low, safety is threatened and we are concerned about the future of this important profession. That is why we are now leading more people to strike, says the leader, Jørn Eggum, at Fellesforbundet in a press release.

Bus stop in the Oslo region

So far, the Oslo region has been the hardest hit by the strike. All Ruter buses in Oslo and Viken are canceled. In addition, many of the public transport trips to Brakar and Østfold have been canceled.

– Travelers are encouraged to find alternative modes of transportation. Or refrain from traveling in connection with the strike, the public transportation company Ruter writes in a press release.

The strike does not affect VY trains, trams, subways and ships. But because the strike is a legal labor dispute, no additional capacity will be established.

– The routes comply with the rules of the game that apply in a legal labor dispute and, therefore, will not add additional capacity.

300,000 travelers affected

3,800 bus drivers in Oslo and Viken went on strike on Sunday. This happened after NHO Transport disagreed with the Fellesforbundet, YTF and other LO unions.

An estimated 300,000 passengers will be affected by the bus strike.

One of them is Kiran Islam. She spent 30 more minutes than usual from Mortensrud to Vinderen.

– I usually take the bus, but today I had to go to take the subway. I think it’s stupid that travelers are affected by this, he says.

Climate action in central Oslo

Several climate activists took the opportunity Monday morning to protest against the government’s oil policy.

The police brought in members of the Extinction Rebellion group after blocking a busy street in central Oslo.

The Norwegian Public Roads Administration advised everyone who might have a home office in advance. Or drive outside peak hours. There are many indications that many have followed the call.

– At the moment, it seems that the traffic is relatively normal. An increase is sufficient, but it is quite marginal so far, says traffic operator Arvid Wahlstrøm at the Norwegian Public Roads Administration at NRK.

School buses are stopped

Students at Oslo and Viken schools who depend on school transport have to get by without Monday. Due to the strike, almost all school buses in the two counties were canceled.

The exception applies to the school bus in Hemsedal and some lines in Nore and Uvdal, Flesberg and Sigdal.

Furthermore, adapted school transport will function normally if the pupils in question have been informed about something else.

Due to the strike, several schools have opted for homeschooling.

Several of the airport buses to and from Oslo airport were also canceled. Torpekspressen and OSL-Ekspressen, which are operated by Unibuss, have also been suspended for the time being.