OSLO, May 28 (Xinhua) -- More than 21,000 Norwegians employed in banking and insurance sector might end up striking Thursday, online newspaper E24 reported Monday.
In case that negotiations between the Finance Sector Union of Norway and the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) on one side, and employers' organization Finance Norway on the other side, do not succeed, strike would impact and possibly stop card payments and online banking, the report said.
"The financial industry is doing very well. Our members have contributed to solid profits year after year, with major dividends for shareholders. Nevertheless, many have lost purchasing power. We demand a more even distribution of value creation," said Pal Adrian Hellmann, president of the Finance Sector Union.
The strike would include both country's largest banks and a number of more local savings banks, as well as many insurance companies, E24 reported.
According to Jan Erik Fane, communications director in Finance Norway, this will have major consequences for customers when it comes to access to banking services such as online banking, payment services and the use of cards.
"In insurance area, the strike will, among others, affect services such as pension and disability payments, damage limitation, customer service and claims settlements," he said.
Employers claim that they have made a good offer in the salary statement and that the wage developments in the financial industry "have been better than for other groups."
"It will therefore be unmusical if we give wage increases beyond those of wage leaders, without the Finance Sector Union being willing to meet our demands for reforms in the collective agreement," Fane said.
According to Hellmann, it was not an easy decision to break the negotiations and "he hopes that the State Conciliator of Norway can help find a solution."