Should a foreign worker on the Norwegian continental shelf have the same pay and working conditions as Norwegian employees? This is the question at the center of this case. The employer of the foreign workers says no. Yes, says the trade union that supports the nine strikers on the British well stimulation vessel in the North Sea. The dispute was recently settled in court. The Labor Court agreed with the yes side. And thus the longest strike ever on the Norwegian continental shelf is stepped up. By the way, did you know that Norway has become less dependent on the oil industry? Read more about it here. Prolonged strike may have consequences Since March last year, a strike has been going on at the Ekofisk field in the North Sea. It started with nine employees at SLB UK (formerly Schlumberger), who work on behalf of ConocoPhillips on the Ekofisk field. These require a Norwegian collective agreement. From the Ekofisk field in the North Sea. Photo: NTB The demand from the trade unions is therefore that you must have Norwegian wages and working conditions on the Norwegian continental shelf – regardless of which country you come from. On 29 February, 75 oil workers on the Ekofisk field will go on strike in sympathy – unless the parties agree on a solution before then. This could have consequences for oil production on the Ekofisk field. More may be made redundant Oil workers from the companies ConocoPhillips and Archer will be made redundant in a sympathy strike from February. On 2 March, another ten members of OneSubsea will be removed. This is according to deputy chairman Ommund Stokka of the trade union Industry Energy and the Confederation of Management and Technology (IE & FLT), which represents the strikers. IE & FLT is LO’s fourth largest confederation. The members work in the oil, gas and agricultural industry. 75 oil workers will go on a sympathy strike on 29 February unless the parties reach an agreement. Photo: Øyvind Hagen/Equinor No dialogue news has asked SLB about how the upcoming sympathy strike could affect oil production in the North Sea. Nuala McClenaghan, communications manager at SLB Europe, answered NRKS’ questions in a joint statement. Here McClenaghan says that SLB has maintained close contact with customers throughout the strike, and that they have been able to deliver services throughout the period. – The well-being and safety of our employees has been our first priority during this period, and we would like to thank our employees for their support, it continues. McClenaghan says SLB has contacted the IE & FLT trade union several times to get a solution in place, but that the trade union has not wanted to cooperate. – They have escalated This is not true, says Ommund Stokka: – SLB has escalated the conflict by not recognizing us as a counterparty. They have escalated the conflict by dismissing the strikers, he tells Stavanger Aftenblad (external link). Ommund Stokka is deputy chairman of the trade union Industry Energy and the Association for Management and Technology (IE & FLT). Photo: Atle Espen Helgersen / Industri Energi Furthermore, he tells the newspaper that SLB has escalated by committing strike-breaking and by giving bonuses to employees who do not unionise. – We have once again contacted the trade union and hope to speak to them soon, says McClenaghan in SLB. Production will be affected Elisabeth Fiveland is communications director at ConocoPhillips Norway. She points out that ConocoPhillips Skandinavia AS is not a party to the case. If the sympathy strike is initiated, production in the Ekofisk area will be affected. How production will be affected, Fiveland will not go into. – All our employees do an important job to ensure safe and good operations in the Ekofisk area, she says. Their dialogue with SLB says she will continue so that they can find a solution together.
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Strike at the Ekofisk field threatens oil production in the North Sea – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
