Norwegians on strike
Over 2000 off-shore workers could go on strike in Norway over the coming days if a row over pay and workers’ rights is not resolved.
The argument is between the Shipowners’ Association and the Safe and YS unions – though as of writing, neither side had yet spoken to the other. Safe says that pension rights should be equal for all employees – whether a new joiner to the company or a person who has had many years of experience. In addition the union argues drilling workers should get the same pay as the workers for oil companies. The employers argue that workers already have fair wages.
Last week as over 600 workers walked out, the mediator said both “parties were so far apart from each other there was no point in presenting a proposal..”. In fact it’s been reported that the key players hadn’t attempted to reach him at all since the industrial action began.
The end result was Shell’s Knarr was effectively shut down on July 10. This was the most significant walk out since 2012. The disruption led to the Brent price rising by 1.2% - to $79.03.pb.
Over the weekend Safe warned that unless an agreement over union demands for increased wages and improved pension rights was reached, hundreds more members, working on around 20 rigs, would join the picket lines. It’s understood the companies and projects which could be affected include Valhalla IP, Ekofisk X, Songa Offshore, COSL and Saipem.
The Shipowners’ Association said it had no plans to contact the unions before the Sunday night deadline. Jakob Korsgaard, the organisation’s chief negotiator, commented: “A middle way is not a solution. Our position is unchanged. I don’t think that there will be any contact over the weekend…Obviously a conflict like this cannot go on forever. All countermeasures are considered.”
In 2012 workers threatened a complete strike, shutting down all oil and gas operations. The government intervened, invoking laws which allowed it to stop strikes if there was a risk to the country’s economy. Korsgaard warned: “The government has that measure if they find it relevant.”