Norwegian Union Wants Assurances as Independent Decision Awaited

Well service employees offshore Norway have raised uncertainties about the impact to their payrolls and other benefits despite a pause in hostilities after striking workers and their employers agreed to settle their dispute through an independent tribunal, the Norwegian Union of Energy Workers (SAFE) said.

"For many, the uncertainty has been related to wages, vacation, sick leave and leave of absence", the union said in an online statement Thursday, as translated from Norwegian.

SAFE said it had met with Offshore Norge, the association of companies operating in the Norwegian continental shelf, to ensure regulations and agreements are observed.

"If the issues are not resolved through dialog between the parties, SAFE will consider further follow-up through formal discussions with the relevant companies and the employer organization", SAFE said. "We will also consider bringing issues of principle into the established dispute resolution mechanisms found in the agreement.

"SAFE will monitor the situation and encourages members who experience incorrect payroll deductions, missing payments or other matters they believe are incorrect to contact their union representatives".

Offshore Norge has not responded to Rigzone's comment request.

SAFE and Offshore Norge have agreed to the government mediator's proposal to leave their dispute to a voluntary wage board and restore work "as soon as practically possible", the two sides said in separate statements July 14.

"This means that the dispute will be decided by an independent tribunal at a later date", Offshore Norge said.

"Due to the holidays for several parties, it is not clear when this [the decision by the tribunal] will take place", SAFE said.

Hundreds of SAFE workers in the well service sector launched a strike June 15 after the union rejected proposals it sees as years behind collective bargaining agreements in other parts of the oil and gas industry.

To force SAFE to agree to terms proposed under government mediation, Offshore Norge announced a legal work halt, or a lockout, June 22.

"The strike affects 10 key service providers: SLB, DOF, Halliburton, Weatherford, Tios, DeepOcean, Subsea 7, Cactus, Vetco Gray Scandinavia and Baker Hughes", Offshore Norge said at the time.

"Preliminary feedback shows that the strike has a highly unbalanced impact on member companies, with significant consequences for those affected.

"Offshore Norge is therefore extending the notice of work stoppage under the Well Service Agreement to cover 1,272 of SAFE's approximately 1,770 members who are covered by the agreement.

"Certain companies operating offshore vessels are exempted to safeguard critical subsea emergency preparedness on the Norwegian continental shelf".

To contact the author, email jov.onsat@rigzone.com