About the Union

Oslo Bygningsarbeiderforening (Oslo Building Worker’s Union) is a trade union for those who work in the building and construction industry. Approximately half of our membership are born in other countries than Norway. Therefore, we have plenty of experience with the kind of trouble you are quite likely to get when working as a migrant worker: Getting sacked, not getting your wages or holiday money, etc. etc.
 
The unions have traditionally been strong in the building industry, and this is the most important reason why buliding work is relatively well paid in Norway. It is the unions' task to defend members' wages and working conditions.
 
An independent and strong organisation
Norwegian unions are financed by the members' dues. We are completely independent of the Norwegian authorities, and all of us who are working in the union full or part time, are building workers ourselves. Therefore, we have much knowledge of the industry, and the kind of problems we can face as building workers.
 
We are affiliated to the largest union confederation in the private sector in Norway, Fellesforbundet, with approximately 160 000 members. This gives us strength, and the employers listen when we talk.
 
The union: A tool for it's members
If you and your colleagues organize, the union can also assist you in negotiating local agreements for your company. These kinds of agreements gives you better wage and working conditions than what the law provides for, and are quite common in Norwegian companies. In recent years, we have also signed agreements with companies that employ mainly foreign workers, including the temporary agency Adecco.

With a local wage agreement, you are among other things entitled to 5 weeks of holiday, 12% holiday money, and public holiday compensation. These benefits applies to both unorganized and organized workers in a company. This is done to avoid competition among employees, so that employers would not come to prefer the unorganized workers. But it is not possible to have an agreement in a company, if most workers are unorganized. It is therefore important to be a member, to help ensure better wage and working conditions.

 
Legal Aid  
Especially when working in other countries, you are in a vulnerable position. The law provides many loopholes for clever bosses who want to cheat their employees, and you might find yourself in a situation where you have no protection whatsoever. As a member of the union you are entitled to legal assistance, and we have access to some of the best lawyers for help and advice in work related questions. 
 

Insurance  
As a member of the union, you have a collective home insurance, a basic insurance which provides financial first aid in event of death, and a leisure time accident insurance which pays compensation in the event of death or permanent medical invalidity resulting from an accident outside work. See www.lofavor.no for more information.
 
We encourage you to join the union!