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Oil and gas workers in Norway headed for major strike

Unions in Norway have warned that up to 755 workers on oil and gas fields could go on strike from this Saturday if a new wage deal is not agreed before this Friday, reports say.

The strike would affect fields that make up 18% of Norway’s 285,000-bpd oil output and just over 17% of its natural gas output, which is currently around 48.5m cbm per day, according to Reuters.

Some 524 members of the Industri Energi union have reportedly said they would walk out if a deal is not reached, affecting the Statoil-operated Oseberg, Gullfaks and Kvitebjoern fields.

The SAFE union will take out 156 workers on ExxonMobil’s Balder, Jotun and Ringhorne fields.

Another 75 members of the Lederne union at Engie’s Gjoea field will also go on strike, Reuters reports.

A final round of mandatory talks between unions and producers, hosted by a state mediator, is scheduled for Thursday and Friday this week.

If the negotiations break down, the industrial action could ultimately see more than 7,400 workers going on strike, according to the newswire, which cited data from the state mediator’s office.

A 16-day strike of Norwegian oil workers in 2012 cut the country’s crude output by around 13% and its natural gas production by about 4%.

Holly Birkett

Holly is Splash's Online Editor and correspondent for the UK and Mediterranean. She has been a maritime journalist since 2010, and has written for and edited several trade publications. She is currently studying for membership of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers. In 2013, Holly won the Seahorse Club's Social Media Journalist of the Year award. She is currently based in London.
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