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Text messages sent between school counselor Inga Marte Thorkildsen (SV) and education director Marte Gerhardsen reveal the drama that followed Dagbladet’s revelations about the Oslo school.
Shortly after Dagbladet reported on the salaried party at Oslo’s main education agency, Thorkildsen contacted Gerhardsen.
The city council feared a large-scale strike among the teachers after the Dagbladet articles:
«I am very concerned that this debate on executive pay will end in a teachers’ strike. It will be a disaster. I appreciate the help, we have to be clear now“Thorkildsen wrote to Gerhardsen in an SMS on October 22.
Dagbladet has also documented millions spent on consultants, headhunters, and American leadership coaching. The opposition in Oslo, as well as several in the Storting, have reacted strongly to the use of money in the Oslo school run by SV and Thorkildsen.
Agreement with the salaried party: – Horrible
– Share the concern
While teachers at the Oslo school have been asked to show restraint in crisis year 2020, many of the principals at the Oslo school have received large salary increases. Teachers have been offered a 1.7 percent pay raise; some directors received more than 10 percent, and that was outside the ordinary salary settlement.
Education Director Marte Gerhardsen responded to Thorkildsen quickly. And Dagbladet’s information on the SMS correspondence shows that Gerhardsen also feared a strike.
«Share the concern. I am so sorry for this. I have spoken with Aina for a long time this afternoon about what a wise message can be. I will reply to Dagbladet tomorrowGerhardsen wrote to school counselor Thorkildsen.
Call on the carpet: – Enough is enough
– Reprehensible
Aina Skjefstad Andersen heads the Education Association in Oslo and has spoken very critically about the salaried party. Union leader Anne Finborud of the National Association of Schools has been even sharper:
– It is reprehensible. I really have to say that I was very disappointed to read about executive salaries. It destroys respect for the schemes we have, increases differences in society, and weakens the foundation of the welfare state, he had previously told Dagbladet.
Spend millions on American coaching
The tops put the battle plan in SMS
Inga Marte Thorkildsen has categorically denied to Dagbladet that it is relevant for her to step in and reverse the salary orders that senior agency officials have received. This despite the opposition in Oslo making it clear that Thorkildsen has in his political power to reverse the salaried party, if he so wishes.
But in another SMS to Mars Gerhardsen on October 22, Thorkildsen conveys precisely this idea:
«(…) Maybe he will even consider reversing something, if possible, as he is so critical of this deal and the case has become so explosive because of the crown. But you have to consider that»Writes Councilor Thorkildsen to Mars Gerhardsen.
LO union: – Reprehensible
The text message also shows how Thorkildsen and Gerhardsen planned to handle the Dagbladet revelations.
«I need to say something clear, for example, that I have asked them to go to the unions and find solutions. And point out concrete changes. This is not something I want, but look, we are under tremendous pressure now.», Thorkildsen continues in the SMS of October 22nd.
Mars Gerhardsen does not respond to Thorkildsen’s idea of reversing some of the salary increases at the agency.
But two days later, Dagbladet was able to report that the Education Agency and the Education Association had found solutions that would prevent that pay party from repeating itself. The solution did not imply any change, but a better participation of the union movement in case of salary increases in the future.
In an important interview with Dagbladet, Gerhardsen said he regretted the situation that had arisen, but was responsible for the pay increases.
After the revelations: – Shocked
– Everything natural
Inga Marte Thorkildsen hasn’t had time to do an interview with Dagbladet in the last two weeks other than by email.
– It is natural that I, as a school councilor, would be concerned about a strike, especially in the middle of a pandemic, she writes in an email on Saturday afternoon.
– I understand well that many teachers are provoked when principals have received a high salary increase, while other employees are encouraged to moderate. That is why we have now changed the system, with a closer dialogue with union delegates on the evolution of wages. More power to the union movement is completely in line with the policy of SV and this council. Reversing salary increases for these people is not an option as long as an agreement has been reached between an employee and an employer, Thorkildsen continues in the email.
The use of money in the Oslo school will be the subject of much debate in the next question hour in Oslo city hall.
