6.4% salary increase: "Creating a company group pays off on the salary"
"With the company group, we got an extra punch, it looks like we have got better wage settlements than everyone else in the industry," says a satisfied NITO union representative. The first wage settlement with a collective agreement has been completed.
The company Heisplan, with its engineers and technologists, ensures that the elevator where you work or live is safe and works properly. They also make sure that the escalator takes you up or down. Heisplan operates all over the country, including offshore.
"We have always had good cooperation with the management, now that we have created a company group, we are even stronger," says NITO union representative Trygve Myhre.
2024 was the year in which he had his first salary negotiation on behalf of the NITO members in the company.
Introduced AFP + 6.4%
In addition to the fact that AFP has been introduced for everyone, which amounts to 2.8%, the NITO group in the company received a salary framework of 6.4%.
"In terms of salary, this ended well. The company is doing well, we are excited about the development ahead. There is no shortage of assignments. We also need more people," he says with a broad smile.
5 points: Important in dialogue with management
Myhre sums up what is most important in the relationship between the NITO group and the management:
- Always ensure that health, safety and the environment (HSE) is a top priority
- Good wage settlements that make us competitive in the market
- Always a good pension scheme and AFP early retirement pension for everyone
- Ensure regular upskilling of members
- That we are involved in assessments and decisions that affect the business
Management cheers on NITO group
It was at the same time as the company got a collective agreement with the employers' organization Virke that the company group was established.
"The management has been very positive about the fact that we have organized, they almost cheered us on," says Myhre.
NITO's business group advisors Marielle Andersson and Bjørn Wannebo, as well as NITO lawyer Kenneth Strømme Gundersen have been involved in the process of putting in place a good agreement.
"By having a company group, the dialogue between management and the employees is formalized, and helps to secure the work on, for example, HSE," says Wannebo.
"By having a union representative and a company group, you are better equipped to find good solutions to whatever it should be, both in good times and in more demanding periods.
The general manager, Gunnar Brattli, confirms that the solution with a company group and a collective agreement between NITO and Virke is good. - We have an open and honest dialogue with the employees. I find that we talk well together and find good solutions.
"Having a company group with NITO members strengthens the company. This contributes to more orderly contractual relations. Not least, it has meant that we have such good pension schemes that also include AFP for everyone. This makes us more attractive in the market," says Brattli.
With NITO as a supporter, it only makes us as a company better. The NITO members have an apparatus behind them, that's good, we have a constructive counterpart," says the general manager.
"Role-playing is a bit awkward then"
In 2024, union representative Trygve Myhre took deputy leader Geir Bøstrand with him to NITO's union representative course; NITO Intro 1 and 2 and Intro 3.
"We have become more aware of the role of union representative and what the company group can achieve. We have learned about pay, salary negotiations, dismissal and difficult conversations," says Myhre.
Role-playing is included in the teaching. Trygve and Geir admit that it is a bit awkward to participate in fictional role-playing games, but both emphasize that it is very useful. - As long as we got started, it went smoothly, says Bøstrand.
"This is how we learn to handle different situations. We open our eyes – we train for a situation that is real," says Bøstrand. Role-playing in courses seems to help in the salary negotiations.
More people want to become NITO members
"We are experiencing a good response to the fact that we have formed a NITO group. More people check whether they meet NITO's requirements for education and experience," Myhre explains.
"The company's management is positive about contributing to extra competence replenishment and continuing education so that more people become engineers or gain enough professional expertise to become NITO members. In the future, I hope the group will be bigger and stronger.
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