As SVT Sápmi reported, the negotiations on cuts at the Sami language center are complete. Since the government flagged for a reduction in funding by five million, five of the centre’s services are being withdrawn.
The negotiations resulted in the Language Center remaining with two services each in Östersund, Tärnaby, Jokkmokk and Kiruna.
Prior to that, the Sámi Parliament’s board and the chairman of the board had on two occasions decided on additions to the head of office’s instructions.
On 1 October, the board demanded that the Language Center remain in all locations. Afterwards, the chairman of the board Håkan Jonsson added that there should be the same number of positions in each location.
The officials protest
In a protocol note, the officials who represented the Sámi Parliament in the negotiations protest:
“The employer considers that the board has exceeded its mandate when they have entered and made the chairman’s decisions,” it says.
Union ST Sápmi representative Marie Enoksson is also critical.
– We are reacting to the board changing the order of office managers and making decisions about the number of employees at the Language Center in each office.
ST Sápmi: “Unclear counterparty”
Marie Enoksson continues:
– When we have an MBL negotiation, we are a union party and we negotiate with the employer. When decisions like this come in from the side, we don’t know who we’re negotiating with. Should we have MBL negotiations with the board instead? she asks herself.
Board chairman Håkan Jonsson (JoF) says:
– The board saw risks that one of the towns, where the language center is located, would be closed down. We didn’t want to risk it, and then we stepped in to ensure that we still have Language Centers in four locations.
The office in Tärnaby threatened
According to Jonsson, it was the office in Tärnaby that risked stepping on the wrong foot in the civil service proposal.
The new chancellor’s instructions also state that “in the case of major or fundamental organizational changes, the chancellor must inform the board of the Sami Parliament, which makes the decision”.
Surely this is a severe limitation of the chancellor’s mandate?
– It is not a severe restriction, but it is a restriction, absolutely.
How is the relationship with the chancellor today?
– It is very good.
SVT Sápmi has asked the chancellor, Lars-Ove Ságån, for a comment, but he declines.