Tariff agreements are the very essence of Fellesforbundet's work and ensure fair wages and working conditions for members in all our sectors. Tariff agreements are also called collective agreements and are spread across different trades and occupational groups.
Fellesforbundet negotiates wages and working conditions on behalf of our members.
What is a tariff agreement?
A tariff 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 at all companies in the same industry.
One of the advantages of a tariff agreement is that you don't have to constantly negotiate with your employer about what the terms should be – you just look at what the agreement says.
The tariff agreement contains provisions on working hours, pay, rosters, various allowances, and when you are entitled to paid leave, etc. With a tariff agreement you are also guaranteed to receive the supplement that is negotiated at the national level every year.
When there is a tariff agreement in the company, you who are members of Fellesforbundet also have the right to negotiate together to obtain terms that are better than those in the tariff agreement.
Then you elect representatives 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 should be in writing.
It is only permissible to make agreements that provide better terms than the tariff agreement. Examples of this are working-time arrangements, wages, and other allowances.
A tariff agreement also gives you the right to information about what happens in the company, and influence over decisions that affect your jobs.