Norway: More Than 1500 Offshore Rig Workers Might Go On Strike

More than 1500 offshore workers in Norway might go on a strike if a wage settlement with the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association – representing the companies – is not reached.

Offshore workers’ union Industri Energi – which broke off wage talks last week together with SAFE union, citing a big difference between the asked for and the actually offered pay rise – said that if no agreement is reached during mediation with the National Mediator (Riksmekleren) up to 937 offshore workers would go on a strike across around 20 offshore rigs and platforms, but the final number of workers has yet to be decided on.

According to the union, the majority of the companies and installations that might be affected by the strike are on a contract with Equinor. Also, some work for Aker BP, Var Energi, and Shell. The strike would affect offshore drilling rigs, platforms, FPSOs, and FSOs.

Separately in a statement on Friday, the Norwegian Shipowners’ Associations acknowledged that Industri Energi said 937 workers might go on strike, but it also said it has been informed by another union, SAFE, that its 667 offshore employees across 12 facilities might go on a strike too.

The mediation with both unions takes place on June 27, with the deadline set for midnight, after which a strike might take place unless an agreement is reached.
As reported earlier this week, a possible strike by the Norwegian Organisation of Managers and Executives (Lederne) was averted earlier this week after Lederne struck a pay deal with the Norwegian Oil and Gas Association through a mediation which had gone 4 hours into “overtime.”

Had it happened, the strike would’ve caused the shutdown of Gjøa, Kristin, Draugen, Ivar Aasen, Oseberg East, and Gudrun offshore platforms, also leading to a production halt from associated fields such as Tyrihans, Maria and Vega, too. This would’ve meant a daily production loss of roughly 440 000 barrels of oil equivalent.

Source: offshoreenergytoday.com