Working in Norway Read more about Forskerforbundet, the Nordic Model and the role of trade unions in Norway. Also, meet some of our international members. Did you know? In Norway, 80 % of employees in the state and municipal sector (and 50 % of the total workforce) are members of a trade union. At state owned higher education and research institutions, around 80 % of the staff is organised. Norwegian trade unions play a significant role in the system of collective bargaining, in salary negotiations, and in defending employees’ rights. The trade unions negotiate for individual salary increases for their members in the local salary negotiations at each workplace.