By late September 1997, there was no solution in the month-long strike on Norwegian mobile offshore units in the North Sea. A renewed attempt at mediation has proved fruitless, and the employers' organisation, Norges Rederiforbund, has announced a lockout which will take place from midnight 8 October 1997.
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By late September 1997, there was no solution in the month-long strike on Norwegian mobile offshore units in the North Sea. A renewed attempt at mediation has proved fruitless, and the employers' organisation, Norges Rederiforbund, has announced a lockout which will take place from midnight 8 October 1997.
The continuing strike on the mobile installations in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea (NO9708120N) has lasted one month. The conflict began at midnight on 24 August 1997 when mediation between the Federation of Offshore Workers Trade Unions (Oljearbeidernes Fellessammenslutning, OFS) and the employer organisation, Norges Rederiforbund, did not result in an agreement. The conflict, which originally only encompassed 343 workers on five installations, has now extended to 453 OFS members on eight installations. The State Mediator, as is usual after a conflict which has lasted for a month, called the parties together for a meeting on Monday 22 September. The renewed attempt at mediation broke down, however, the same evening. On Wednesday 24 September, Norges Rederiforbund announced a lockout which will encompass all OFS members on the mobile installations. The lockout will be effective from midnight on 8 October, and will affect 12 mobile intallations.
Most of the installations hit by the strike are engaged in test drilling. The employees in the operating companies which are engaged in oil and gas production are covered by another collective agreement. A new agreement was reached for this latter group earlier this summer. The production of oil and gas has therefore proceeded as normal. However, on Saturday 20 September the strike had an impact on Norwegian oil production when production in the Yme Field was shut down. The Yme Field is one of the smallest fields on the Norwegian shelf and the oil which is taken from the field is loaded and transported ashore by ship. In connection with the strike, a dispute arose between the shipping company which operates the cargo ship and OFS. Since the shipping company could no longer guarantee the safety of the employees on the cargo ship, the operating company for the Yme Field, the Norwegian petroleum company Statoil, decided to shut down production.
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (1997), Strike on mobile offshore units continues, article.
