Parties to the bus strike meet at the Ombudsman – NRK Vestland

More than 300 bus drivers gathered at two Union strike meetings in Trondheim on Tuesday.

– We have hardly had a salary evolution in recent years. The last real wage increase we received was in 2006, says Tide Buss driver Rune Eriksen.

The annual salary of experienced drivers around the table where you sit is approximately 455,000 kroner. The will to hit is great.

– What we want above all is that wages rise to the average wage of the industrial worker. That’s the main goal, says Eriksen.

– For the good of the passengers

NHO Transport CEO Jon H. Stordrange believes the strike has lasted long enough.

– We want to end the strike as soon as possible. Mostly for the sake of the passengers, says Stordrange.

The parties to the bus strike will meet at the Ombudsman’s Office on Wednesday at 12 noon.

Trondheim Bus and Tram Workers Association Union Leader Ole Roger Berg does not believe there is a solution today and has not heard of any movement between the parties.

Berg is a member of the Union’s central bargaining committee. He is set for the strike to last as long as it was in 1998. At that time, the strike lasted almost four weeks.

– We do not expect the strike to last that long, but we will persevere if necessary, says Berg.

The infection situation

According to Yrkestrafikkforbundet (Ytf), the purpose of today’s meeting is to report on the status and see if there is a basis to resume the dialogue.

Around 8,500 drivers are now on strike across much of the country.

The Ombudsman, Mats Ruland, told NRK before the meeting that he had taken the initiative of a meeting to hear about the status of the level of conflict.

– It is, among other things, the contagious situation that makes me try to establish a dialogue between the parties.

You have left the fall break in an attempt to find a solution. Ruland denies that the health authorities have contacted him with a message that there is a danger to life and health.

The union is hesitant

Linda Jæger, chief negotiator at Yrkestrafikkforbundet (YTF), says the association is waiting for what comes out of the meeting.

– We hope this can provide a basis for a new dialogue and that the employer can meet with us, says Jæger.

She feels that the will to hit among the members is great and that the drivers have the support of the people.

– At the same time, we hope to be able to obtain a quick solution to the conflict. Unfortunately, this affects third parties, says Jæger.

– Waiting for dialogue

NHO Transport CEO Jon H. Stordrange says they don’t have much news to tell the Ombudsman.

“But we expect a dialogue with the other party, and we meet with an open mind,” he said before the meeting.

He will not comment on questions about the infection status.

– We let the health authorities think something.