Norwegian Talks Stalemate as Workers Face Lockout

by Jon Mainwaring

Rigzone Staff

Monday, July 09, 2012

Norwegian Talks Stalemate as Workers Face Lockout

The wage dispute that has hit production across the Norwegian oil and gas industry has continued into a second week, after weekend talks failed to find an agreement between the industry and three unions that represent oil workers.

On Monday, the Norwegian Oil Industry Association (OLF) announced that after 13 hours of mediation at the country's national mediator over the weekend, the dispute is still far from being resolved. Now a lockout of workers is expected to take place on Tuesday this week.

The unions have demanded wage increases, better overtime pay and the right to retire at 62 for the sector's workers but employers see these demands as excessive.

"Oil company employees have an average annual income of NOK 1 million [$163,000] and a retirement age of 65," said OLF chief negotiator Jan Hodneland. "This already makes them Norway's pension winners. They've nevertheless opted to use their power to win even better terms."

Last Thursday, OLF announced that 6,515 workers covered by the offshore pay agreements will be locked out from their workplaces from midnight on Tuesday, July 10.

OLF also pointed out that the Norwegian economy is losing around $32.5 million per day, while 1,000 employees working for oil and gas sector suppliers have been laid off, as a result of the strike.

A statement from Norwegian energy sector union SAFE said that the lockout was an unnecessary "extension and dramatization of the labor dispute".

However, some oil industry observers reckon the threat of a lockout will help to resolve the situation.

"We still believe that the government will intervene if required on the grounds of the Norwegian national interest, and the need for Norway to be perceived as a reliable supplier of crude oil," Brendan Long, an analyst at London-based investment bank Merchant Securities, wrote in a research note Monday.

Long added that he believes the duration of a full-blown lockout would be short lived and that any such lockout was unlikely. However, he added that "it is worth considering this risk at a time when Saudi Arabia's excess oil production capacity is thin".

A former engineer, Jon is an award-winning editor who has covered the technology, engineering and energy sectors since the mid-1990s. Email Jon at jmainwaring@rigzone.com.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.

António Delfim Machado | Jul. 9, 2012

Some people get strike. Some people get everything, and work pleasantly, others work very hard and get a lot of punches on their noses. God is great.

brad s | Jul. 9, 2012

Article failed to mention the work schedules these strikers face. The crews I dealt with worked 1 week on 2 weeks off!

Related Companies

Company: Norwegian Oil Industry Association (OLF)	more info
- Norwegian Talks Stalemate as Workers Face Lockout (Jul 9) - Parties in Norwegian Oil Strike to Meet Wednesday (Jul 4) - Norwegian Oil Strike Talks Still Locked (Jul 2)

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