According to NRK Østfold, Helle-Viv Magnerud, who works as a membership advisor for the non-profit organization Uloba, described her assistants as her arms and legs, doing everything from personal hygiene to makeup. She expressed disappointment and questioned whether the mayor would accept a pay cut himself.
Provider Uloba warns the 490 kroner rate is insufficient to operate the service. Aage Gjesdal, deputy leader of Uloba, told NRK Østfold that at such a low rate, they cannot maintain the quality they believe is necessary for a good service. Uloba pays for training and counseling for assistants and pays slightly above the minimum wage in the collective agreement. Gjesdal believes the wage settlement will not improve margins with the new rates.
They are my arms and legs.
Other municipalities in Østfold pay providers nearly 60 kroner more per hour. The cut would theoretically save the municipality 36,400 kroner annually on Magnerud's arrangement alone. Mayor Fredrik Holm admitted to NRK Østfold that the municipality's price level is below that of several other municipalities, but said calculations show the price will lead to defensible services.
Magnerud's role at Uloba highlights the broader implications: as a membership advisor, she represents users who depend on adequate funding for BPA services.
I have mostly involuntary movements. I can maybe walk a little. But I fall easily and can't get back up without help.
They are my arms and legs, so they do everything practical. Everything from helping with personal hygiene, hair, makeup, everything.
It's about equality.
We have made calculations based on what BPA normally costs and added a profit margin for providers. It is clear that we have a price level that is below several other municipalities.
I feel like running over some toes, I really do.
Now I am very disappointed. I wonder if he would like to take a pay cut, I do.
The assessments we have made are that the price we have set will lead to us providing defensible services also in relation to a serious labor market.
It is not a lucrative agreement for us in any way. But we are not so concerned about that, if we can make it work.
As low as Halden municipality goes, we cannot maintain the quality we believe must be in place for a good service.