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On Friday, in an article translated from the Norwegian below, the Oslo newspaper Klassekampen reported that a "bitter struggle between the United Steelworkers Union and [Kongsberg Automotive's factory in Van Wert, Ohio's] Norwegian owners" has attracted the attention of the Norwegian United Federation of Trade Unions.[1] -- Union leader Arve Bakke called the use of a lockout and strikebreakers by a Norwegian defense giant "morally reprehensible." -- "To keep workers out through a lockout while simultaneously hiring unorganized labor is completely unacceptable and morally reprehensible. We got rid of that sort of thing in the ‘30s in Norway," Bakke said. -- "From American owners we can’t expect anything better than that they follow American tradition and legislation, but I expect better from Norwegian owners," he said. -- Last week local press in Ohio reported that two union leaders were travelling to Norway to speak to Kongsberg executives, but were told that "the lockout and its resolution . . . will be off limits."[2] -- BACKGROUND: Kongsberg is Norway's best-known company specializing in defense equipment and dual-use items (annual revenues in 2007 about $1.5bn), and has recently purchased other Norwegian defense and electronics firms to become stronger in international civilian markets. -- In Johnstown, PA, Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace is opening its first manufacturing plant in the U.S. to build remote-controlled guns that can be mounted on top of vehicles. -- Thanks to Troy Storfjell for sending his translation of the Klassekampen article. -- Storfjell comments: "What this whole thing shows, in addition to the way that the United States is on the road to becoming a Third World labor market for European capital, is that capital is not nation-specific. Simply because it can't do something in Norway doesn't mean that the Kongsberg company won't do that very thing in countries with weaker labor protection, like the U.S." ...

** Severe: Kongsberg Automotive will cut wages at its factory in Ohio by 40% -- Morally reprehensible, says Arve Bakke of the Norwegian United Federation of Trade Unions **

Kongsberg Automotive’s (KA’s) factory in Van Wert, Ohio, USA, is the site of a bitter struggle between the United Steelworkers Union and the factory’s Norwegian owners. KA has resorted to lockouts and the strikebreaking hiring of non-union labor.

Union leader Arve Bakke of the Norwegian United Federation of Trade Unions (Fellesforbundet) was quite worked up in his conversation with *Klassekampen*.

“To keep workers out through a lockout while simultaneously hiring unorganized labor is completely unacceptable and morally reprehensible. We got rid of that sort of thing in the ‘30s in Norway,” he thundered.

“From American owners we can’t expect anything better than that they follow American tradition and legislation, but I expect better from Norwegian owners.”

The lockout and the use of strikebreaking labor is legal under American labor law.

“This shows how important it is to have labor law that is not simply dictated according to the premises of capital,” Bakke said.

Either the workers must accept a package of reductions that amounts to a 40 percent cut in wages, or production will be moved to Mexico. The cuts mean that wages would drop from fifteen to nine dollars an hour. In addition, the company would slash both retirement pensions and health insurance benefits. When the union rejected the proposal by a vote of 303 to 9, the company answered with a lockout. Three hundred twenty-seven workers were left on the doorstep, while at the same time the company bussed in temporary labor to maintain production levels. The factory has been surrounded by barbed wire and guarded by private security personnel to keep the union workers at bay.

“If they are forced to accept this wage cut, there are many families that will find it difficult to make ends meet. The wage they propose -- nine dollars -- is barely over minimum wage, said Local President Aaron Collins to *Klassekampen*.

After having sent out an announcement to their international contacts, the American workers’ case was taken up by Fellesforbundet, which invited representatives of the USW to Norway and took it upon themselves to arrange a meeting between the workers and corporate leadership in KA. On Wednesday the five representative delegates met CEO Olav Volldal.

“We hoped that they perhaps didn’t know about everything that was being done at the factory in Ohio, but found out that the CEO here in Kongsberg is the one who gives the orders to everyone,” said Vice President Judy Grubb.

“He chewed us out in a polite way. He said that we don’t have anything to offer, and that management at the factory has done the right thing,” Mark Shaw added.

The USW brought a counteroffer to the table early in the process, which would include a cut in salary and benefits totalling ten percent. That proposal did not fall on good ground.

“They say on the one hand that they are willing to negotiate at any time. But on the other hand they say that they will not budge from the demands they have made. What sort of negotiation is that?” Grubb asked.

The workers have been locked out since April of this year, and Local President Collins says it is difficult keeping morale up within the union.

So far everything has been non-violent on the workers’ part, but this matter has not been especially good for Norway’s reputation, according to Collins.

“When we were bought by Kongsberg we raised a Norwegian flag, in order to show that we had faith that they would stand by us. That flag recently disappeared,” he said.

“People in Norway should know that companies that appear to respect workers’ rights here in Norway behave immorally and trample on people’s rights when they get the chance,” Adam Lee interjected.

Translated by Troy Storfjell, Ph.D.
Fulbright Program Adviser
Assistant Professor of Norwegian and Scandinavian Studies
Department of Languages and Literatures
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA 98447-0003
Phone: 253-535-8514
Fax: 253-536-5132

VAN WERT, Ohio -- United Steelworkers Local 524 President Aaron Collins and Vice President Judy Grubb are leaving for Norway today to meet representatives from the company that locked them out four months ago.

On April 2, the management of Kongsberg Automotive locked out more than 300 employees. Those employees had voted against ratifying their existing labor contract over disputes about wages and benefits. Following the lockout, management decided to move more than 150 jobs to Mexico. The plant employed 312 people before the lockout.

Collins and Grubb will be joined by union officials from the district, including a negotiator.

Collins had hoped to be able to discuss the lockout and its resolution during the trip, but the company has said those topics will be off limits.

The company said the meetings will not be about the lockout, but about ways to improve productivity and efficiency through cooperation as well as a look at the Norwegian model of labor and management cooperation.

The local contingent will meet with labor union representatives in Oslo, Norway, next Tuesday, and meet Kongsberg officials on Wednesday, including CEO Olav Volldal.

"Thursday we're going to tour a couple of their plants with the union officials," Collins said.

The unions in Norway are paying for the groups hotel rooms and providing transportation during the trip.

While discouraged by the limited topics of discussion, Collins hopes the trip can lead to some improvement in relations with the company.

"I'm hopeful that something positive comes out of it, but we really don't know," he said.

Collins said dealing with the company has been difficult. The union recently learned that Kongsberg has not paid its portion of a bill for some arbitration that took place in May.

Union members are also waiting on North American Free Trade Agreement benefits that they are qualified for since some Van Wert jobs were sent to Mexico.

"We are qualified for schooling and training," Collins said. "But we're waiting the company to submit a list of names and addresses of employees who are eligible.

Collins added that the union just learned it has lost its case with the National Labor Board that accused Kongsberg of bargaining in bad faith and of an illegal lockout.

Collins said the lockout is difficult and frustrating, but the union is committed to continuing its pickets and negotiating efforts.

"We are committed to fighting this company, not only for us but for our community and other workers in this country," he said.