DistantNews
Support us
🇸🇪 Sweden /Economy & Trade

Striking air traffic controllers earn $160,000, drawing no sympathy

From Svenska Dagbladet · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • Twelve air traffic controllers in Norway began a strike on Friday, leading to flight cancellations and impacting several departures to Sweden.
  • The strike, which began after negotiations between the union and employer organization failed, threatens further disruptions.
  • Despite high average salaries of 1.7 million Norwegian kroner and a 35-hour work week, the controllers are not garnering public sympathy, with one professor stating they are "not a group to feel sorry for."

Oslo's airport faces closure to traffic on Sunday as air traffic controllers in Norway continue their strike, affecting multiple flights to Sweden. The industrial action began Friday after negotiations between the air traffic controllers' union and the employer organization Spekter broke down.

Twelve controllers initiated the strike at 11 a.m. Friday, leading to a growing number of flight cancellations. The union has threatened to expand the strike in the coming days, increasing pressure on employers. Spekter's CEO, Anne-Kari Bratten, described the strike as "completely incomprehensible."

The striking air traffic controllers in Norway earn an average annual salary of 1.7 million Norwegian kroner (approximately $160,000 USD) and typically work a 35-hour week. They were reportedly offered a 4.4 percent pay increase, amounting to about 62,000 kroner. This high compensation has led to a lack of public sympathy for their cause. Economics professor at the University of South-Eastern Norway, Petter Berg, told NRK that the controllers are "not a group to feel sorry for."

Det er ikke en gruppe å tycka synd om

— en ekonomiprofessorAn economics professor commented on the air traffic controllers' strike, noting the lack of public sympathy due to their high salaries.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Svenska Dagbladet in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog