Norway: Supply base workers reach wage deal

Norwegian Oil & Gas and Industry Energy union have reached a settlement on wages through mediation, averting a possible strike of workers employed in supply bases in Norway.

“We’re satisfied to have reached a settlement with Industry Energy through mediation and thereby averted strike action,” says Jan Hodneland, who heads the negotiating team from the Norwegian Oil and Gas Association, which represents employers.

The two sides were involved in mediation over the supply base agreement on pay and conditions on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 June, and reached agreement after roughly three hours of extra time.

The supplement for working on public holidays was increased from 55 to 100 per cent, while shift workers had their supplement for working weekends raised from 55 to 65 per cent. In addition, a general rise of NOK 0.75 per hour was agreed.

Had the deal not been reached, 26 employees at Polarbase and 149 at Mongstadbase would have gone on strike.

The next round of mediation concerns the oil service agreement and will take place on 4-5 July with Industry Energy alone. This is because the Norwegian Union of Energy Workers (Safe) does not wish to enter mediation with Norwegian Oil and Gas until a settlement has been reached with Industry Energy. Mediation with Safe is scheduled for 15-16 August.

Norwegian Oil and Gas represents the employers in the negotiations. Industry Energy represents about 1 000 employees in the following companies: KCA Deutag Drilling Norge AS, Asco Norge AS, NorSea AS, Coast Center Base AS, Vestbase AS, Polarbase AS, Mongstadbase AS, Helgelandsbase AS and Saga Fjordbase AS.

[mappress]