Vil ha kraftige kutt for Posten: – Største masseoppsigelse i moderne tid

The Norwegian government presented its proposal for next year's budget on Tuesday morning. The postal service, Posten, will receive 1.52 billion kroner in the budget proposal, which represents a 24% cut. The budget plan only provides for the delivery of letters once a week. The government cites a decrease in the volume of letters being sent, although they note that there is still growth in the parcel market.

No changes to package delivery in the next year's budget are proposed, according to the government. The trade union has stated in a statement to NRK that they will fight the proposal "with grit and teeth." The head of the trade union, Helene Harsvik Skeibrok, said that "with this proposal, 2000 out of 3000 postal jobs will be lost in a very short notice."

The government will therefore be responsible for the largest mass layoff in modern Norwegian history, according to the trade union's chief. The Socialist Left Party, one of the parties that will negotiate with the government to get the budget in order, is also critical of the government's budget proposal. They point out that the government should have a plan for what will happen to the employees, but the government has not presented such a plan yet, which they find disappointing.

Transport Minister Kamzy Gunaratnam (Ap) says that the government must think anew about postal services. "Posten has an important role in Norwegian society, and they will continue to have one," he said in a press release. The government's proposed transition arrangement will be in effect from July 1, 2027. The government estimates a savings of 491.3 million kroner in the 2027 budget.