Norwegian Oil Industry Workers to Go on Strike Starting June 21
Norwegian oil and gas industry trade unions announced on Monday that workers on offshore drilling rigs will begin a strike on June 21, if no agreement is reached with employers regarding next year’s wages.
About 438 members of three unions — Styrke, SAFE, and DSO — may take part in the strike. Styrke and SAFE stated that the strike will initially not halt oil and gas production, but warned that it may expand later, since more than 7,200 drillers and service workers participate in the annual wage negotiations, according to Reuters.
The first round of negotiations between the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association (representing rig owners) and the unions broke down last month. Talks will resume on June 20, with the involvement of a state mediator.
According to the unions, the strike will initially affect three drilling platforms, which operate on behalf of Equinor and OMV in the Norwegian Sea. Other platforms that could be impacted have not yet been specified.
Frode Alfheim, leader of the Styrke union, stated that workers have clear expectations for a significant pay increase this year. Specific demands from the unions and offers from the employers are not being disclosed, as such information is typically confidential.
It is separately noted that in March, onshore workers in Norway agreed with employers to a 4.4% salary increase this year. However, wage demands can vary between different sectors. Direct employees of oil companies reached an agreement last month and avoided a strike.
A strike is an effective tool for unions in Norway’s oil and gas sector. Last year, oil workers managed to secure a pay raise following another strike threat.
The last major strike in Norway’s oil and gas industry occurred in 2020, cutting national hydrocarbon output by 330,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day — about 8% of total production. The strike ended only after intervention by the Norwegian government.
