The state settlement underway: This is how we will ensure your salary development
On Thursday 16 April, negotiations began in this year's main settlement in the state. NITO enters the negotiations with clear demands for real wage growth and a more flexible basic collective agreement.
This year's wage settlement is a main settlement. This means that the parties negotiate both finances and the actual text of the Basic Collective Agreement. NITO is negotiating together with Akademikerne.
In the central government, the financial framework and the text of the agreement will be negotiated centrally this spring. However, what you actually get in salary will be agreed in the local negotiations out in the companies later this year.
"Our members in the state expect real wage growth this year. Expertise costs, and the state must accept that they compete in the same labour market as the private sector. In addition, we expect the central parties to now spend their time developing the Basic Collective Agreement, not on rematches," says Kristian Botnen (pictured), head of NITO Stat.
| Date | What's going on? |
| April 16 | The central negotiations start |
| 30 April at 24.00 | Deadline for the central negotiations |
| May 7 | Start-up mediation if the parties do not agree |
| 28 May at 24.00 | Deadline for agreeing on a possible mediation |
| May 29 | First possible strike day if mediation does not succeed |
| Early summer and into autumn | Local negotiations in the individual central government agencies |
These are NITO's most important demands
NITO and Akademikerne enter the negotiations with a number of demands on behalf of the members of the state. It is about ensuring real wage growth, retaining local wage formation and making the Basic Collective Agreement a better tool in everyday life.
1. The Basic Collective Agreement must be developed
NITO demands that the Basic Collective Agreement be developed to become a more flexible tool that can be used actively throughout the year. For example, the provisions on when the parties can negotiate wages on a special basis must meet the challenges that the companies actually face – not be a brake, as it can be experienced today. This must be resolved in the central negotiations.
"The collective agreement must work in the everyday lives of those who actually use it, union representatives and managers out in the companies. The current text of the agreement has not been changed since 2022, instead the focus has been on how many agreements we should have," says Botnen.
This year, the central parties must take their responsibility and spend their time and energy on development, not rematches and reversals.
Kristian Botnen, head of NITO Stat
2. All finances will continue to be distributed locally
NITO is clear that we will retain the current system for negotiations, where all finances will continue to be distributed locally. The central government agencies differ in terms of size, geography and social mission. Local distribution is crucial in order to safeguard expertise, the market and the actual needs of the individual business.
Akademikerne explains: Local, collective bargaining in the state (youtube.com)
3. Demand for real wage growth to ensure skills
Around 80 percent of managers in the state respond that it is challenging to recruit and retain cutting-edge expertise, according to the state's employer barometer from 2025.
"The wage gap with the private sector is far too large. Central government agencies must be able to use salaries as an active personnel policy tool to recruit and retain the expertise they need to fulfil their social mission," says Botnen.
That is why NITO is demanding a real wage increase for its members. Expertise comes at a cost, also for the state.
Stay tuned nito.no
We will inform about the key outcome at nito.no as soon as the negotiations are completed. Until then, the negotiations are confidential.
Preparations start now
Although the central negotiations are currently underway, it is important to remember that all finances must be distributed locally. Therefore, union representatives can already begin preparations for the local negotiations.
