How do you get a higher salary as a NITO member of KS?
As a NITO member in the local government sector, you have specific opportunities to influence your salary development. The annual local negotiations are your most important opportunity, but there are also other ways to go. If you are covered by the Basic Collective Agreement with KS, you will get an overview of your rights and practical advice on how to achieve better pay.
Which collective agreement are you covered by?
Most NITO members in the local government sector are covered by the Basic Collective Agreement between NITO and KS. This applies to you if you are employed by municipalities and county authorities, with the exception of:
- The City of Oslo, which is a separate negotiation area – see how you can influence your salary in the City of Oslo
- Companies that are members of the employers' association Samfunnsbedriftene and follow the company agreement - see how you can influence your salary in Samfunnsbedriftene
KS: Which chapter?
As an engineer or technologist in the municipality, you are usually placed in Chapter 5 of the Basic Collective Agreement with KS. Chapter 5 covers positions that require higher academic education and gives you greater flexibility when it comes to salary negotiations. Your entire salary is determined locally in your municipality.
Annual local negotiations - your most important opportunity
When will the salary settlement take place?
The annual local negotiations are usually conducted in the autumn. NITO's union representatives in your municipality will inform you about the schedule for this year's negotiations.
How does the process work?
Local wage negotiations may differ from municipality to municipality, but must take place within the framework set by the collective agreements. The process usually follows these steps:
- NITO's union representatives negotiate a financial framework for the wage settlement, which is usually in percentages, but can be given as a krone supplement
- The employer and employee representatives agree on whether general and/or individual supplements are to be given
- NITO's union representatives submit claims on behalf of the members
It is an employer's responsibility to distribute salaries to their employees. It is the employer who can assess whether you deliver as expected. The assessment shall be made in accordance with the criteria for salary adjustment in local wage policy.
How to influence the outcome of the negotiation
Salary development conversation with your manager
You can ask your immediate manager for a salary development interview. A salary review is a formal conversation between you and your manager about salary and salary development. It is a clarification of expectations, not a salary negotiation, and the point of the conversation is that you can together find measures that can be initiated so that you achieve better salary development.
The time of the conversation must be agreed within 14 days of you requesting it. And minutes of the conversation must be kept.
You have the right to have your union representative with you in the conversation. In the conversation, it should be clarified whether you and your immediate manager have the same point of view on your areas of work, results and efforts. Furthermore, to get the manager on board with your thoughts on future measures
Salary review guide: How to talk your way to a higher salary
Document your results and skills development
Document new areas of responsibility, skills enhancement or other circumstances that may justify a higher salary. Be updated on the salary level for comparable positions, both in the municipality and in the private sector.
Criteria for assessing salary in the municipality
The collective agreement contains principles for how wages are determined. These must be used both for new appointments and in annual adjustments. There must be a natural connection between your competence, competence development and your salary development.
The following principles shall be taken into account in the assessment:
- Complexity of the position - how demanding and complex is your job?
- Competence - formal education, experience and specialist knowledge
- Responsibility - management, professional responsibility or project responsibility
- Effort and results - how do you perform in the job?
- Recruitment considerations - how easy is it to find people with your expertise?
- The market situation - what is paid for your expertise elsewhere?
These can be elaborated, supplemented or prioritised in the local wage policy in your municipality.
Other opportunities for a salary increase
Negotiations on special grounds
You can get a salary adjustment outside the annual negotiations if there are special reasons. This is often called "5.2 negotiations" according to the section in the Basic Collective Agreement. It is really discussions - if the employer does not agree, there will be no adjustment.
When can you demand such negotiations?
- In the event of significant changes in your work tasks
- In case of significantly increased responsibility
- When there is a special need to recruit and retain your expertise
- In connection with competence enhancement through relevant continuing/further education
How do you go about it?
- Contact your union representative and present your case
- The union representative assesses whether there is a basis for submitting a claim
- If yes, the union representative submits a formal claim on a special basis
- The employer must respond to the claim within 14 days
- Discussions are carried out, and any new salary is determined
Understand the negotiation system in the municipality
NITO has a cooperation agreement with Akademikerne, which means that we are covered by the Akademikersamarbeidet both centrally and locally. Centrally, Akademikerne municipality negotiates on behalf of NITO with KS on the content of the main agreement and the basic collective agreement.
For you as a NITO member in Chapter 5, it is the local negotiations that are most important, since your entire salary is determined locally. If there are no union representatives in your municipality, we can find regional solutions
This is what you can do - step by step
- Familiarise yourself with your municipality's local wage policy – it should be easily accessible.
- Contact your local union representative for guidance adapted to your situation.
- Stay up to date on the labour market and wage developments in your industry.
- Make it routine to have a salary development interview annually - it benefits both you and the community.
- Actively participate in member meetings and provide input to the union representatives.
- Consider whether you have grounds for requesting a salary negotiation outside of the ordinary settlement.
- Plan your competence development strategically and seek new challenges and areas of responsibility.
Resources and contact information
Useful resources:
- NITO's salary calculator: Compare your salary with other NITO members
- The NITO-KS Basic Collective Agreement
- Your municipality's local wage policy
- Local special agreements in your municipality
Get help:
NITO assists union representatives with advice, guidance and negotiation skills
If there are no union representatives in your municipality, union representatives in other Akademikerforening can contribute or we will find regional solutions – contact NITO's advisers centrally
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