Was laid off, but new everyday life gave a better life
Marija Radonic actually lost her job. She thanks her union membership for a new solution that also provided a three-hour shorter travel distance to work.
"In a way, I had expected it, because when you get into a new job last, you think you're going to be the first to leave. Still, it was a shock," she says.
In the winter of 2026, Marija Radonic was hit by the downsizing at Aker Verdal. 300 were to leave.
The shock turned into a second chance
Radonic is originally from Zagreb in Croatia. She has lived in Norway for ten years and worked for three years at Aker Verdal. She has been permanently employed for one year.
With two young boys at home, the uncertainty became even greater when the dismissal came. - As someone who is from abroad, it is not always easy to get a new job quickly. I do not have a large network, no one who can help and "hold my hand", she says.
After she received her dismissal, she discovered by chance an advertised vacancy in the same group, but in Trondheim. Then she quickly contacted NITO's union representative: "I called Line Adelheid Stang and said: It's a position I want!" She took the matter further and found out more about what kind of position it was. She also thought that I was a good fit for it.
The solution was a transition from Aker Verdal to Aker Trondheim. There, Radonic now works as a coordinator in so-called lifecycle information. There, she follows up that equipment, design and buildings are correctly connected in the projects.
"It's not my dream job," she says. "But it was far better than the alternative. I took the job. It's nice here, I enjoy a good team. And I save three hours every day because the workplace is closer to where I live. Overall, it was a better everyday life for me.
Such a solution would not have happened if the union representatives in NITO had not stood up for her and been a driving force for such a solution. - I am so happy for my NITO membership, she says.
- I have union representatives who support me and I have access to lawyers who can speak on my behalf. When I tell family members in Croatia about this, they do not quite understand this. Dad asked: Have you really got a lawyer through the union? Now they also understand that union membership is really worth its weight in gold!
Advice on downsizing
- Contact NITO's local union representatives at an early stage
- Keep an eye on vacancies elsewhere in the Group
- Be open to new roles and locations that can provide new opportunities
Radonic has a message for others who are affected by downsizing: Don't stand alone.
- Make sure you are a member of a trade union. Talk to those who represent you right away if something like this affects you. I was very lucky to get help quickly from NITO. Then you don't have to worry about what to say. Seek help and get help.
She also believes it is important to be open to new opportunities, even if they do not look perfect at first glance.
- See if other locations in the group are advertising jobs. Maybe you are open to moving, and maybe you get a better job or a job closer to where you live.
"It's nice to be a NITO member," she says. "I see that others in similar situations experience being "more alone" if they are not unionized. I got help, it's like having a whole new life.
Radonic says the experience has given her even greater faith in the value of being organized.
