OSLO, Norway (AP) -- Norway's largest petroleum workers' union ordered 334 members to strike on Friday after negotiations failed to settle a new contract.þþThe strike will not immediately affect Norway's more than 3 million barrels a day oil production because it targets maintenance and exploration services.þþThe 18,000-member Norwegian Oil and Petrochemical Union, NOPEF, demanded that oil service workers be granted similar compensation and time off as other workers in the offshore oil sector.þþThe union demanded average wage increases of 6.5 percent, while employers offered 2.9 percent. Last month, the union accepted a 4.7 percent wage hike for other members.þþThe Norwegian Oil Industry Associated, representing employers, said the demands were too costly and individual contracts with workers were needed to cover the flexible nature of offshore oil services.þþAccording to the union, oil service workers are often on call for their employers for up to six weeks straight, and then get three weeks off. The union demanded the same two weeks on, four weeks off rotation as most other oil workers.þþ``This is a strike for our demands, but also a strike against the employers' unacceptable demand for individual agreements,'' said NOPEF leader Leif Sande.þþKnut Staurland, a negotiator for the employers, said the union's terms ``would have been a costly solution for the companies in the long term.''þþThe union said it will decide next week whether to expand the strike.þþNorway is the world's third largest oil exporter, after Saudi Arabia and Russia.þ
Source: NY Times
