Norway: Deal reached on offshore supply bases wages. Strike averted

Norwegian oil and gas employers have reached a collective wages settlement with workers employed in offshore supply bases, thus avoiding a strike.

To remind, the talks had broken down between the parties, and then went to national mediation. The mediation between the Norwegian Oil and Gas and the Norwegian Union of Industry and Energy Workers (Industry Energy) was conducted on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 June.

According to Norwegian Oil and Gas the mediation on the land base settlement was successfully concluded two and a half hours past the deadline.

“Although we would have preferred to secure acceptance for more of our demands for changes to the agreement, we’re pleased that a consensus could be achieved,” says Jan Hodneland, chief negotiator for the Norwegian Oil and Gas Association.

Hodneland said that the framework for this settlement will protect the profitability and flexibility of the companies at a demanding time.

No general pay rise will be given. Furthermore, minor adjustments will be made to the rates for minimum pay and subsistence allowances as well as to decentralised funds.

Some of the demanding issues, such as shift allowances and travel provisions, will be discussed by the employers and the unions in a separate committee.

Some 800 employees are covered by the settlement. They work at offshore supply bases along the whole Norwegian coast.