The collective agreements are the very essence of Fellesforbundet's work and ensure fair pay and working conditions for members in all our sectors. The collective agreements are also called accords and are spread across different trades and occupations.
Fellesforbundet negotiates wages and working conditions on behalf of our members.
What is a collective agreement?
A collective agreement is an agreement between a company and a trade union (for example, Fellesforbundet). In this agreement, it states the minimum entitlements you should have when working in the company. It is the same agreement that is entered into for all companies in the same industry.
One of the advantages of a collective agreement is that you don't have to constantly discuss with the employer about what the terms should be – you just look at what the agreement states.
The collective agreement contains provisions on working hours, pay, rosters, various allowances, and when you are entitled to paid leave, etc. With a collective agreement you are also guaranteed to receive the supplement that is negotiated nationally each year.
If there is a collective agreement in the company, you who are members of Fellesforbundet also have the right to negotiate collectively to obtain terms that are better than those in the collective agreement.
Then you appoint some to represent all of the company's Fellesforbundet members. They negotiate further with the company on behalf of everyone. You draft separate agreements about what you agree with the company on. These must be in writing.
Only agreements that provide better terms than the collective agreement may be made. Examples include working-time arrangements, wages and other allowances.
A collective agreement also gives you the right to information about what is happening in the company, and influence over decisions that affect your jobs.