Strike ends in controversy and anger

Discord: from left — Gro Braekken, head of the Norwegian oil industry association (OLF), Leif Sande, leader of Industri Energi, and Norway’s Minister of Labour Hanne Bjurstrom

REUTERS/SCANPIX

By Steve Marshall Oslo

 12 July 2012 22:59 GMT

A crippling 16-day strike by Norwegian offshore workers ended amid controversy this week as the government intervened to prevent a lockout that would have led to a wide-scale production shutdown, with unions vowing to continue their fight for improved pension rights.

Oil industry association OLF was heavily criticised by unions for allegedly using the lockout as a tactic to force the government to intervene in the dispute, and thereby avoid a negotiated settlement.

Labour Minister Hanne Bjurstrom, who imposed compulsory arbitration for a pay deal just 30 minutes before the lockout was due to take effect at midnight on Tuesday, also criticised the industry body’s action as “irresponsible” and said the issue should have been resolved at the negotiating table.

However, several rounds of ­arbitration talks between OLF and three unions — Industri Energi,…

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