Equinor denies strikes at Sverdrup field affect production – E24

– No, it’s not right for us to close Johan Sverdrup. Production is running normally, Equinor spokesman Morten Eek tells E24.

– We are now working to analyze the type of consequences of the strike, but so far no closure activity has begun, he adds.

Eek says they are now looking at what other types of activities at Sverdrup are being curtailed, but he denies they are linked to production itself.

The Lederne union announced in the morning that the Johan Sverdrup camp will be closed, as a result of the 43-member strike.

The employers’ association Norwegian Oil and Gas, for its part, writes in a press release that the field “runs the risk of having to close” as a result of the strike.

– The strike occurs because we do not see the will to discuss an agreement for our members related to the new ways of operating the platforms, says the union leader of the leaders Audun Ingvartsen in a press release.

Demand higher salaries than others

A possible closure of the Johan Sverdrup field will lead to a daily production loss of around 470,000 barrels of oil, which corresponds to about 12 percent of total production on the Norwegian platform, according to Norwegian Oil and Gas.

– We are in a year in which we are hit by a global pandemic and in which both the industry and the community have an economic burden. The frontline settlement earlier this fall clearly pointed in the direction of moderation. However, leaders choose to strike because they demand higher wages than others, says chief negotiator Jan Hodneland at Norwegian Oil and Gas.

The leaders affirm that the union demanded collective agreement coverage for its members who, after adjustments and new technologies, will work in ground control rooms for part of the year.

– The employer’s party did not resolve this and said flatly no to the lawsuit without promoting any concrete alternative during the mediation. It is incomprehensible since our claim would not impose additional costs on companies, says Ingvartsen in Lederne in the report.

Agreement with two of three unions

At the same time, it is clear that the unions Industri Energi and Safe have reached an agreement. Therefore, the strike will be much less extensive than it could have been.

If the parties had not reached an agreement, 168 Industri Energi offshore workers and 113 Safe members would have gone on strike.

– I am pleased that we have managed to reach an agreement on an agreement that is in line with the theme of the front, says Lill-Heidi Bakkerud, deputy head of Industri Energi and negotiator of platform agreements.

Industri Energi og Safe has agreed with Norwegian Oil and Gas a general supplement of NOK 4,700. In addition, employees of drilling and catering companies receive an additional NOK 8,946.

In addition to this, there is also agreement to increase a number of supplements.

– Considering the special situation in which we find ourselves, we are satisfied with the result, says Bakkerud.

Safe emphasizes in a press release that the result is “moderate” and assumes that “concrete and real local salary negotiations are carried out in the operating companies.”

Leaders’ Message: Shelf Mediation Did Not Lead to: Shelf Strike