43 workers at Johan Sverdrup platform go on strike

Johan Sverdrup platformPhoto: Carina Johansen / NTB

No agreement was reached during talks between the Lederne union and the Norwegian Oil and Gas’s (NOG) employers’ organization. As a result, a total of 43 workers on the Johan Sverdrup platform initiated a strike. 

However, NOG reached an agreement with the unions Industry Energy and SAFE.

According to Lederne, the Johan Sverdrup platform is now being shut down. 

The employer’s side, Norwegian Oil and Gas, stated that there was a “risk of having to shut down.”

“No will for discussion”

“The strike is because we do not see the will to discuss an agreement for our members related to new forms of operation of the platforms,” union leader Audun Ingvartsen in Lederne said in a comment.

According to the union leader, Lederne demanded collective agreement coverage for their members who, after adjustment and new technology, for parts of the year, will work in control rooms on land.

“The employer side would not solve this and flatly said ‘no’ to the requirement without promoting any concrete alternative during the mediation,” Ingvartsen said.

12% of production

The mediation deadline expired at midnight, but negotiations continued in overtime. 

Just before 6 o’clock, Lederne announced that there would be a strike.

Johan Sverdrup is Norway’s highest-producing oil field. 

In total, this could mean a daily loss of around 470,000 barrels of oil, which corresponds to almost 12% of the total production of oil and gas on the Norwegian shelf, according to NOG.

“We’ve been hit by a global pandemic this year, and both the industry and the community are burdened financially. The frontline settlement earlier this autumn clearly pointed in the direction of moderation. 

Nevertheless, Lederne chose to go on strike because they demand higher wages than everyone else,” Jan Hodneland at NOG said.

Agreement reached with two unions

An agreement was reached with Industry Energy.

“I am pleased that we have managed to reach an agreement on a settlement,” deputy leader Lill-Heidi Bakkerud noted.

The offshore employees will receive a total salary supplement of NOK 4,700. 

SAFE reached an agreement with NOG. 

© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today

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