How to get a higher salary as an engineer in Samfunnsbedriftene
As a NITO member of a company affiliated with Samfunnsbedriftene, you have several opportunities to influence your own salary. Not only in annual local negotiations, but also at the end of the probationary period or by taking on new tasks and responsibilities. Here you get an overview of your options and how the negotiation system works.
1. Which collective agreement applies to you?
Samfunnsbedriftene has two different collective agreements that may apply to NITO's members:
- Energy Agreement II: Applies to those who work in an energy company or subsidiary with independent membership in Samfunnsbedriftene
- Corporate agreement: Applies to those who work in an independent, municipally owned enterprise in industries such as waste/recycling, ports, ICT, business/property, parking, auditing or water and sewerage
Both agreements have provisions on wages and negotiations, but with some differences in details and processes.
2. Annual local salary negotiations – your most important opportunity
What are local wage negotiations?
Every year, NITO's union representatives and the employer in your company meet for local salary negotiations. The starting point is the company's financial situation, and the parties are negotiating an overall framework for salary increases for NITO's members.
Energy Agreement II: The local parties negotiate a local framework on the basis of the company's financial circumstances. The employer must then determine the individual members' salary within the negotiated framework and based on the criteria in the company's payroll system (Section 3-4).
The Corporate Agreement: The local parties conduct negotiations based on the company's overall situation. In the event of negotiations, both general and individual supplements may be granted, and it may be agreed that all or part of the salary adjustment is allocated by the employer for salary determination (Chapter 3, 3.3.2).
When are the local negotiations?
- Energy Agreement II: Negotiations must be carried out by 15 November each year, with effect from 1 July.
- The Corporate Agreement: Negotiations must be carried out by 15 November each year, with effect from 1 May.
3. The salary review – your personal opportunity
How do you prepare for the salary interview?
- Map your achieved results since the last call
- Document new skills, courses or education
- Describe new responsibilities or tasks
- Research the salary level for similar positions
- Be specific about what salary increase you want and why
Salary review guide: How to talk your way to a higher salary
NITO's salary statistics
4. Special situations where salary is to be assessed
After the end of the probationary period
Both the Energy Agreement II and the Corporate Agreement stipulate that an assessment of the salary placement must be carried out after the end of the probationary period. This is an important opportunity to have your salary adjusted if you have shown that you master the position well.
In the event of significant changes in position
If your tasks or responsibilities change significantly, this may provide a basis for a new salary assessment. This can happen by:
- New responsibilities
- New competence requirements
- Changed complexity in the tasks
When relocating
If you have to move to a lower-paid position in the same company due to illness, injury, rationalisation or other circumstances that are not your fault, you must as a general rule keep your salary as a personal arrangement.
In case of vicarious service/constitution
If you temporarily move into a higher paid position, you are entitled to the higher position's salary when you take over the position's full area of work and responsibility.
5. Skills development as a path to higher wages
How can you use this?
- Map out which skills are valuable to the company
- Make a plan for your own competence development
- Document new skills and how they are used in their work
- Take the initiative for a conversation with the manager about how new skills can provide a basis for salary development
6. If the negotiations do not succeed
Disagreement in local negotiations
In the event of disagreement in the local negotiations between NITO's business group and the management, there are separate dispute provisions in the collective agreements that specify how the dispute is to be resolved.
- Energy Agreement II: The dispute can be brought to the central parties for organisational processing. If no agreement is reached in the organizational proceedings, one of the central parties brings the dispute to arbitration.
- The Corporate Agreement: The dispute can be brought before a local tribunal.
If the company group is considering breaking down in the local negotiations, contact NITO's secretariat for advice.
What should you do if you are unhappy with what you got?
If you find that your salary demands are not successful, you should:
- Ask the manager for a reason why the claim was not met
- Ask for specific advice on what can provide a basis for higher wages in the future
- Have a dialogue with elected officials
7. Summary – your most important opportunities
- Annual local negotiations: Your most important arena for salary development
- End of the probationary period: An important milestone for salary appraisal
- Competencedevelopment: A long-term strategy for better pay
- New tasks and responsibilities: May provide a basis for salary adjustment outside the ordinary negotiations
- The salary discussion: Use it to highlight how you're contributing
Remember that NITO's union representatives and secretariat can always assist with advice and guidance on your opportunities for salary development.
8. Relevant provisions - an overview
| Situation | Energy Agreement II | The Corporate Agreement |
| Guidelines - salary negotiations | §§ 3-1, 3-3 and 3-4 | Chapter 3, especially 3.3.2, and Appendix 2 |
|
Salary interview |
§ 3-4.1 | Chapter 3 3.1.2 |
| End of the probationary period | § 3-4.3 | Chapter 1 2.6 |
| Significant changes in position | § 3-4.2 | Chapter 3 3.3.5 |
| Repositioning | Section 2-3 | Chapter 1 3.2 |
| Deputy/Constituent Service | § 4 | Chapter 1 13.2 |
| Competence enhancement | Section 3-3 | Chapter 3 3.1 |
| Disputes | Section 3-5 | Chapter 3 3.3.2 |
Contact your union representative
We recommend that you have a chat with your union representative, before contacting the NITO lawyers or submitting a case.
Knowledge of the conditions in the workplace is an important contribution to your case, even if it is passed on to the NITO lawyers.
