The Politics of Statutory Extensions of Collective Bargaining in Norway

By extending collective wage agreements through the force of law, states can prop up dwindling collective bargaining. This is a common policy in Continental Europe, but less so in Scandinavia. Norway adopted a law for statutory extensions in 1993. The first extensions were implemented in 2004, and extensions have become ever more common since. This article analyses the introduction and use of statutory extensions in Norway, using in‐depth interviews, archival material and secondary sources. Given impending labour immigration, unions were concerned about coverage of collective bargaining. Due to corporatist inclusion of unions and employers in policymaking, the government listened to union concerns. Employers, although mostly opposed, eventually accepted the new measure in practice. Party politics on this matter were initially divided between left and right in predictable ways, but have largely converged since. Both left‐ and right‐wing governments sought compromise over confrontation.