Norway: oil services workers start working again after strike

The strike ended late Monday but it would take oil companies a couple of days to get the work force in place to restart operations, Jan Hodneland, chief negotiator on behalf of the Norwegian Oil Industry Association, or OLF, told The Associated Press.

Photo: Norway: oil services workers start working again after strike

The mediation between the state and the Norwegian Oil and Petrochemical Workers' Union, or NOPEF, took more than a month.

The strike affected only three of the many oil rigs off Norway's coat, but threatened more operations in the coming weeks.

It had no effect on oil production that has made Norway the world's third largest oil exporter, after Saudi Arabia and Russia, the AP reports.

Hodneland said negotiations struck a deal to have the oil service workers get a US$9,500 raise over a two-year period. New work schedules, giving some of the services employees four weeks off after a two week shift would also be put in place.

The oil service workers primarily maintain wells and assist in drilling and completing new exploration and production wells.