“That’s a serious consideration when the dispute is hitting so hard,” he adds. “The strike is costing Norwegian society and the companies more than NOK 200 million per day.”
Roles
The 120 workers “actually” striking are the only ones losing pay over the dispute, with the remaining 588 either off duty or having roles which make them part of safety staffing on installations.
On the other hand, hundreds of personnel in the supplies industry have been laid off and left without pay at the start of the summer holidays.
In addition to hitting their own employer and the government, the strikers are therefore also hurting their fellow workers in the supplies sector.
Cost
On the 10th day of the strike, the unions have opted yet again not to escalate the conflict. The cost of the stoppage will have reached NOK 2 billion by tomorrow.
“This dispute is deadlocked,” says Hodneland. “The OLF has no mandate to include pension benefits over and above the existing ALP early retirement scheme in industry-level pay agreements.
“The unions first presented that demand in 1980, but it is still impossible for us to accept. This must be determined at company level.”
More information:
Eli Ane Nedreskår, Informasjonssjef OLF, mobil 994 50 101.
Bengt Eidem, Samfunnskontakt OLF, mobil 414 32 558.