A stronger voice: Forskerforbundet’s Vice President, Hilde Gunn Slottemo, says that the more knowledge workers join the trade union, the better able they will be to protect their interests. “Today, we have 26,500 members. So it’s obvious that when we speak, we’re listened to more attentively than a few individual voices would be.”
Budget cuts and reorganisations across the knowledge sector are creating uncertain times for knowledge workers, making it more important than ever to be a union member.
Hilde Gunn Slottemo, Vice President of Forskerforbundet (the Norwegian Association of Researchers), urges everyone to join a union and gain the security it offers.
“When many people stand together, each individual is in a much stronger position,” she says. “Membership of Forskerforbundet gives you a powerful safety net, in the form of assistance and competence, that you can rely on to come to your aid in the event of any conflict or downsizing process.”
It is hardly surprising that Forskerforbundet’s Vice President should advocate unionisation, but it is a topic that Slottemo is truly passionate about.
“For me, being a union member is the obvious choice. It’s about collective solidarity and the importance of standing together in solidarity,” she says.
Earlier this year, Slottemo wrote a feature article in the Norwegian daily newspaper VG, in which she talked about the risks facing those who choose not to unionise in turbulent times.
“Because I’ve worked on this issue as a historian, I know the enormous impact trade unions have had in the struggle to establish important employee rights and benefits, including working hours restrictions and holiday entitlements,” she says.
“I really want people to understand the significance of the trade union movement. I hope the people who read my article will realise the importance of employees standing together, and join a trade union – if they haven’t already.”
For many, the legal assistance and advice that Forskerforbundet provides free of charge in the event of work-related conflicts or downsizing is one of the most important benefits of membership.
“Forskerforbundet’s goal is for downsizing not to happen at all – that we have such a good framework in place that people are able to retain their jobs. But if downsizing cannot be avoided, it should be done by the rules,” says Slottemo firmly.
In connection with such processes, there are rules that must be obeyed, rules that Forskerforbundet’s elected representatives and lawyers know extremely well – often better than those on the management side themselves.
“The thing is, you can’t just pick and choose on the basis of personal preferences,” says the union leader. “There are rules that must be followed. And in such cases, having a trade union at your back can be invaluable, because you have someone working for you and your cause, and who is looking out for you when you are in a vulnerable situation.”
One of the most important advantages of being a union member is that you are part of a fellowship whose solidarity can make you more secure in times of uncertainty.
Slottemo says that many underestimate the value of trade union membership because they think that problems in the workplace can be resolved regardless – which is not necessarily the case.
“Many people think that work-related issues can be resolved simply by having a quiet word with the boss,” she says.
“And that may work out fine if you have a good relationship with your boss. But what if a conflict arises between you and your supervisor? Or an entirely new manager appears on the scene? Then you’re on your own. You have no one at your back and no one to help you. That’s just when you need the support of a powerful organisation. You need someone who will look out for you and make sure that laws and regulations are adhered to.”
Membership “pays for itself”
Did you know that as a member of Forskerforbundet, you are entitled to a host of discounts on goods and services, as well as advantageous loan and insurance terms?
If you also add in the tax deduction you get, the savings can easily offset the cost of membership. |
In Norway, around half of all employees are members of a trade union, which is a relatively high percentage internationally.
Nevertheless, there are many reasons to want the rate of union membership to be even higher – particularly among knowledge workers.
“Forskerforbundet would like more people to unionise because we want to protect the country’s knowledge sector. We are working to highlight the value of knowledge in society,” says Slottemo.
As an example of how vital this is, she points to the current situation in the USA, where the new administration is trying to shut down the federal Department of Education and is actively casting doubt on the inherent value of research.
“At this time, it’s really important that we stand together to defend public trust in knowledge, research and education. We have a big job ahead of us.”
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