Publisert: 29.10.04 kl. 13:36 - Abonnere på Aftenposten? Ring 05040 eller gå inn på kundeservice.aftenposten.no

Unions want Statoil, Telenor state-owned

Jonathan Tisdall
Oppdatert: 29.10.04 kl. 13:36 Publisert: 29.10.04 kl. 13:36

Fagforbundet, one of the largest unions in Norway, will push for the return of privatized and partially privatized companies like Statoil and Telenor to be returned to state ownership at next year's congress of The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO).

"Privatization has led to the services on offer being dependent on where in the country one lives. Providing a good service has become subordinate to the demand for profits," Fagforbundet leader Jan Davidsen told newspaper Klassekampen.

Davidsen does not rule out the state having to buy back shares in Statoil and Telenor if that is what it takes to improve company management.

LO will throw its support to the party that shares the trade union movement's political stance, and according to Klassekampen there are more LO-unions that want stronger state ownership.

Fagforbundet evolved from health, social and local government workers unions and has over one third of LO's 850,000 members.

(Aftenposten English Web Desk/NTB)