Offshore staff
STAVANGER, Norway – The Norwegian Oil & Gas Association and labor union Industry Energy have reached an accord on the oil service agreement that triggered a 20-day strike.
“The conflict between Norwegian Oil and Gas and theNorwegian Union of Industry and Energy Workers (Industry Energy) was terminated at 14.00 on Tues., Oct. 11,” The Norwegian Oil & Gas Association said in a statement.
During the strike, which began on Sept. 21, about 300 Industry Energy members in Schlumberger Norge AS, Baker Hughes Norge AS, Halliburton AS, Oceaneering AS, and Oceaneering Asset Integrity AS participated in the stoppage.
“We’re naturally pleased that the strike is over,” says Jan Hodneland, lead negotiator at Norwegian Oil and Gas. “Our mantra in the negotiations has been restraint and respect for the very demanding position the industry and its many employees find themselves in. We have now found a solution through a redisposition of pay resources.”
Days ago, Industry Energy released a statement describing the strike as “absolutely necessary” for oil service workers to earn pay equal those in other industry positions.
“We strike for the oil service employees to be equally worthy as others in the oil industry,” the statement said. “Local union leaders inSchlumberger, Halliburton, Baker Hughes, and Oceaneering [emphasize] that it was not desirable, but absolutely necessary to go on strike against the Norwegian Oil and Gas Association on the Oil Service Agreement.”
In that statement, local union leader Kjell Vestly, Oceaneering, explained further: “It is necessary to strike because it is just as stressful for me to work the night shift as for personnel under the Operator-, Drilling- and Catering Agreements, but employers will not offer us the same night shift allowance.”
According to Industry Energy, personnel under the Operator-, Drilling- and Catering Agreements, received NOK 1.50 ($0.18) extra on the night shift allowance, while personnel under the Oil Service Agreement were offered NOK 1 ($0.12).
Many workers’ jobs were terminated over the course of the strike. As a direct and indirect result of the stoppage, just less than 600 people were laid off in Norwegian Oil and Gas member companies, the association said. In addition, it said that the Norwegian Shipowners Association reported more than 1,700 lay-offs among rig contractors during the strike.
10/11/2016
