Norwegian Union Halts Wage Talks, Threatens Strike Action
Norwegian main industrial trade union, Fellesforbundet, ceased its wage negotiations with employers’ association Norsk Industri on Tuesday thus increasing the risk of strike action that would affect 800 companies, including the country’s oil sector.
The parties will now enter a mediation period handled by Norway’s National Mediator.
If a deal between the union and the employers’ association is not reached until Sunday, April 3, the union’s 26,000 members of 800 businesses will go on strike.
The strike would affect oil services companies in Norway including Aker Solutions, Bilfinger SE and Kvaerner.
On the other hand, if the agreement is reached the proposal will go on a ballot among its members.
According to Reuters, the union and the employers negotiate wage rises every year in Norway and they usually reach a deal after several rounds of negotiations, but that is not always the case.
A strike by oil workers in Norway four years ago, due to which several installation were shut down, reduced Norway’s oil and gas production pushing the oil prices up on supply fears.
