(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
When the National Organization convenes this weekend for a congress in Oslo, there are three main issues that should be at the center: Firstly, the government's proposal for a new labor law, secondly the fight against social dumping and thirdly the pension reform.
We have reasonably good faith that the three parties that are now challenging the Bondevik government – SV, Ap and Sp – will meet LO when it comes to the Working Life Act, provided that they conquer the Storting this autumn. The government proposes to make working life more flexible on the employers' terms, among other things by expanding access to temporary employment and overtime work. The Historical Working Environment Act of 1977 was a historic victory to secure the conditions of workers – now it is being replaced by a law that is unclear in its purpose, and which makes it worse to be an employee. LO must be clear on what kind of law they demand from a new government. If we get a majority change in the autumn, the door is open to go the exact opposite of what the Bondevik government wants in terms of workers' rights. Then LO must have clear requirements.
Similarly, there is an obvious need to intensify the fight against social dumping. Neither we nor LO are initially negative in allowing Swedes, Poles, Balts or others to come to Norway to work, but it is unacceptable if this is to be based on standards or wages other than what Norwegian workers are entitled to.
The third, but perhaps most important, case is about putting in place a pension system that is more just than what the government and the majority in the pension commission have proposed. The Labor Party has moved its stance in the direction of its SV, and LO has every opportunity to contribute to a majority for a solid, safe and public pension scheme.
However, the majority proposal from the LO Secretariat is not good enough: If the pensions are to be maintained and also secure for the low-paid, the best-year rule must be retained, while the pensions are adjusted in line with wage growth and that the expected life expectancy should be controlling for pension payments. In addition to this, one must have a system where everyone is guaranteed a pension and where everyone receives pension points from the first krone.
LO's socio-economic department has even shown how the scare propaganda on the national insurance capacity is exaggerated. Based on this, the national organization should take up the fight for a system that is more solidarized and that can in fact be financed through increased national insurance contributions or similar measures. Pensions are largely a matter of distribution, and this country can afford to carry a large number of pensioners.
An unclear line from the LO, as the secretariat's majority seems to add, increases the danger that the right-wing parties will dictate a pension reform before the election. Therefore, the requirements of the LO Congress should be clear. One of these requirements should also be that voters should have their say on pension reform in the election.
