The Union of Education Norway is the country's largest trade union in the education sector, with nearly 190,000 members – from kindergartens and primary schools to upper secondary schools, vocational colleges, university colleges, universities and adult education. We are also the country's second largest trade union.

Our organisation represents conscientious, skilled professionals with high academic and pedagogical competence levels.

The Union of Education Norway is a prominent social actor that seeks to influence social development. We are proactive and solution-oriented, and we seek a society characterised by tolerance and respect for differences and diversity. Kindergartens and schools are important shared spaces for developing democracy and tolerance in a multicultural society.

The Union of Education Norway's values and principles are based on universal human rights and democratic core values such as freedom, equality and solidarity.

Professional ethics are our shared value base, and they form the foundation for our work in kindergartens and schools.

The core purpose of kindergartens and schools is rooted in a set of fundamental values, which we as a profession must give practical meaning to.

The basis for our work is stated in our object clause:

• The Union of Education Norway is a politically independent organisation for education professionals at all levels of the education system.
  
  
• The Union of Education Norway shall protect the interests of its members in matters relating to pay and working conditions, as well as professional and education policy issues.
  
  
• The Union of Education Norway shall work to ensure a high-quality education provision for children, young people and adults, and that education plays a central role in society.

The Union of Education Norway is a prominent political actor but is not affiliated to any political party. Our work involves broad social engagement and we participate actively in societal and educational debates, including as a central consultation body.

We strive for a high-quality education system that offers free, universal and equal access to education. In addition to education, pay and social policies, professional ethics play a key role in our work as a trade union and organisation for professionals.

Part of our work entails:

• strengthening the quality of education
• ensuring good pay and working conditions
• aligning pay levels with members' responsibilities and competence
• ensuring a good working environment – both physical and psychosocial
• ensuring that heads of kindergartens and schools are given the opportunity to be effective leaders
• ensuring universal access to high-quality kindergartens with a high standard of academic content
• ensuring high-quality schools with universal and equal opportunities for growth and learning

The National Congress is the highest authority in the union and is held every four years. The Executive Board is the executive political authority during the Congress period, consisting of 13 members, including the chairperson and two deputy chairpersons. The Committee of Representatives, with 59 members, handles overarching issues and matters of principle.

The union has five advisory committees, and members are also affiliated with their respective membership groups. The ‘club’ is the unit of the union that operates at workplace level. We have local branches in every municipality, whose work includes conducting local wage negotiations with the local authority. The regional branch is the link between the local branch and the head office. The Regional Board provides advice, assistance and training for the local branches. The Union of Education Norway is a democratic organisation with elected representatives at all organisational levels. We have an elected representative at virtually every workplace where we have members.

The teacher students in the Union of Education Norway constitute the union's interest organisation for teacher students. These members aim to work within the education system. The teacher students in the Union of Education Norway work to enhance the quality of education in the field of teaching and pedagogy and to safeguard their member’s study rights.

See laererstudentene.no for further details

The Union of Education Norway has broad international engagement through our membership in the global teachers’ organisation Education International (EI). The union is also strongly engaged in international solidarity work, where one of the goals is to increase female representation in trade unions.

The Union of Education Norway is a member of Unio, which has about 400,000 members. Unio is Norway's largest trade union confederation for employees with a higher education. Unio negotiates on behalf of the member unions in most central wage settlements.

Unio has 13 member unions. In addition to the Union of Education Norway, these include: the Norwegian Nurses’ Organisation, the Norwegian Association of Researchers, the Norwegian Police Fed­eration, the Norwegian Physiotherapist Association, the Norwegian Occupational Therapy Association, Spir, the Norwegian Union of University and College Graduates, the Norwegian Associa­tion of Tax Auditors and Accountants, the Norwegian Society of Radiographers, the Norwegian Union of Marine Engineers, the Norwegian Union of Librarians and the Norwegian Dental Hygienist Association.

See unio.no for further details

Utdanningsforbundet.no is the main channel for content and tools for members and trade union representatives. On the website, you will find information about our policies, pay and working conditions, relevant subject material, news and much more.

We also publish several newsletters aimed at our membership groups. The Union of Education Norway is active on social media, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Bluesky and TikTok. We also hold a wide range of courses and conferences.

In addition, the Union of Education Norway publishes the member magazine Utdanning and the professional journals Bedre Skole, Første Steg, Yrke and Spesialpedagogikk.