Notice to personnel regarding local wage negotiations for 2014

A schedule has now been agreed for this year's local negotiations at the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH). The public sector unions will inform their members about deadlines for applying for wage increases.

19.09.2014 - Ed.

At the central negotiations on 1 May 2014, the negotiating parties agreed that local negotiations would be conducted within an overall financial framework of 1.75% of wage expenditure.

The total pool for NHH this year amounts to NOK 3,824,238. The allocation of the amount in the pool was discussed between the parties and will be apportioned on a pro rata basis in relation to the wage expenditure.

This entails the allocation of 60.38% to research and teaching positions and 39.62% to technical/administrative positions.

Furthermore, in accordance with an agreement with the employee representatives, the employer has added NOK 215,000 to the pool. This amount has been earmarked for research and teaching positions. It is emphasised that the addition to the pool is an arrangement that will not create a precedent for future wage settlements.

Efforts and results from the past two years are the factors that shall be used as a basis for the individual appraisals.

The general rule is that employees who have had their wages assessed in the final six months prior to 1 August 2014 will not be assessed in this year's local wage negotiations unless special circumstances warrant otherwise.

Central guidelines/priorities

In Section 2.3.3 of the new Basic Collective Agreement, guidelines have been set for the safeguarding of equal pay.

Employees who are on leave with pay are included in the negotiations and their wages shall also be assessed. This also applies to employees who, prior to the effective date on 1 August 2014, have resumed work after parental leave without pay, cf. Section 12-5 of the Norwegian Working Environment Act, or care leave without pay, cf. Section 20, no. 7 of the Joint Provisions.

Local guidelines/priorities

All criteria in NHH's Wage Policy, cf. Section 2.2, 3.2.2 and 3.2.3, shall be emphasised during the wage negotiations. Section 3.3 shall also be emphasised for employees with management duties.

For technical/administrative positions, the document "Scope of position and prerequisite qualifications for technical and administrative positions" will be used as a basis when assessing the occupation code.

The parties have discussed whether special emphasis must be placed on certain criteria in NHH's Wage Policy for this year's local negotiations.

No special emphasis shall be placed on any criteria for research and teaching positions. Employees must be given a comprehensive assessment based on:

Good results within research, teaching and dissemination. In addition, professional engagement that benefits the academic group and NHH will also be emphasised.

For employees in technical/administrative positions, the following criteria in Section 3.2.3 of NHH's Wage Policy will be particularly emphasised:

• Effort, competence and attainment of results
• Ability to co-operate and service attitude

Conclusion and notification of the results of the negotiations.

The wage negotiations will be completed by 31 October 2014. After the minutes have been signed by both parties, letters will be written to those who have received wage rises and a general report of the result of the wage negotiations will be provided on the online NHH news website Paraplyen. The parties are in agreement that managers who are responsible for personnel shall inform their staff about the individual results of the negotiations.

The effective date for wage increases is 1 August 2014.