SVA researchers allege unequal pay compared with OsloMet leaders Researchers at the Centre for Welfare and Working Life Research (SVA) within OsloMet say they are paid less than university leaders, citing salary data that show institute directors at SVA earn more than OsloMet’s overall leadership while researchers on the same competence level earn less [1].
Professor promotions grant four salary steps, researcher‑1 promotions do not OsloMet’s salary policy awards four salary increments when staff are promoted to professor, but the same increase is not applied to promotions to researcher 1 – a position classified at the professor competence level – creating a disparity for SVA scholars [1].
Svenn‑Erik Mamelund estimates a 350,000 NOK loss over ten years Svenn‑Erik Mamelund, who was promoted to researcher 1 in 2015 and received only two salary steps, calculates that the shortfall amounts to roughly 350,000 NOK across a decade [3].
Salary data reveal SVA researchers earn 57,000 NOK less than OsloMet professors Official OsloMet salary statistics as of 1 January 2026 show SVA researcher 1 staff earn on average 57,000 NOK less than OsloMet professors, while SVA institute directors earn about 1.3 million NOK annually, roughly 173,000 NOK more than OsloMet’s institute directors, and SVA section chiefs earn 84,000 NOK more than their OsloMet counterparts [1].
Researchers led by Patrick Lie Andersen filed a complaint over a modest 50,000 NOK offer Patrick Lie Andersen, former SVA union representative, organized a grievance letter after SVA researchers promoted to researcher 1 in 2025 were offered a 50,000 NOK raise, far below the 90,000‑100,000 NOK they would have received under the four‑step rule [1].
HR director Randi Stene admits no salary negotiations for SVA promotions since 2014; talks set for week 9 OsloMet HR director Randi Stene confirmed that salary negotiations were omitted for SVA promotions from 2014 onward and announced that retroactive negotiations for the affected staff will take place in week 9 of 2026 [6].