Bergen Christian Primary School faces Norway's longest teachers' strike amid hiring controversy
Twelve teachers at Bergen Kristne Grunnskole have been on strike for 175 days, the longest teachers' strike in Norway, while the school hired new staff and increased enrollment.
A twelve-member teaching team at Bergen Kristne Grunnskole has continued a strike for 175 days, setting a national record for teachers' industrial action. The dispute stems from the school's refusal to adopt a standard collective bargaining agreement, prompting the union Utdanningsforbundet to label the school's hiring of extra staff and enrollment expansion as strike-breaking. Board chair Olav Sollid maintains that the new hires are within legal bounds and aim to ensure a smooth start to the school year, not to replace striking teachers.
Labour Minister Kjersti Stenseng warned that employer actions undermining a lawful strike threaten trust in the labour market. Union leaders Steinar Vegsund Strømsli and Geir Røsvoll emphasized that the case reflects broader concerns about respect for strike rights and established workplace norms.
Why it matters
The dispute tests Norway's labour-law norms and could influence how private schools handle collective bargaining.
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