For 61 years, Godthåb Transportservice has been part of Nuuk's business community. For Managing Director Niels Pedersen, membership of Greenland Business is about ensuring fair working conditions, access to legal advice, and making sure businesses have a voice when new legislation is being developed.
By Rasmus Barud Thomsen
It is a busy time at Godthåb Transportservice.
The high season has begun, and the company's 25 employees are engaged in everything from servicing the construction industry and cruise ships to waste management, as well as renting out mobile cranes and aerial work platforms.
"We have a broad range of activities, and everything is running at full speed," says Managing Director Niels Pedersen, who has led the company for around 15 years.
Earlier this spring, Godthåb Transportservice was acquired by Nuuk Transport after several years of negotiations to complete the deal. Pedersen sees the acquisition as a natural step in the company's development.
"It is essentially a generational transition, bringing in younger leadership. That is good for the company," he says.
For Niels Pedersen, one of the main reasons for being a member of Greenland Business is the organisation's role in negotiating collective agreements.
Greenland Business and SIK negotiate the agreements that form the framework for wages and working conditions within the company.
"It is important for us to have well-regulated pay and working conditions, and Greenland Business plays a crucial role in that," he says.
The company also relies on the organisation as a trusted adviser whenever questions arise about legislation or the interpretation of collective agreements.
"It could be legal questions or other issues where we simply call them and get a quick answer. That's valuable because it saves us from spending unnecessary time on it and allows us to move forward quickly," says Niels Pedersen.
For Pedersen, however, the value of membership extends beyond direct advice.
He also highlights Greenland Business' role in representing companies during the development of new legislation and its efforts to create clarity around regulations and responsibilities that affect businesses' day-to-day operations.
Among other things, the organisation participates in public consultations and policy discussions, ensuring that the views of the business community are communicated to public authorities and policymakers.
"It is important for the business community that we have a say in what is happening. Greenland Business does an important job in that respect," he says.
A current example is the introduction of mandatory vehicle inspections. Godthåb Transportservice recently participated in meetings with the Danish Road Traffic Agency (Færdselsstyrelsen) concerning the forthcoming inspection rules for heavy goods vehicles.
Here, Greenland Business acted as the link between the companies and the authorities.
"You cannot simply take regulations from Denmark or the EU and implement them here without adjustments. We have had two productive meetings with the Danish Road Traffic Agency, with Greenland Business acting as the intermediary, and they have listened to our concerns. That is very important to us," Niels Pedersen concludes.
