(ANSA) - OSLO, 06 JUL - The Norwegian government has put an end to the strike by workers in the oil and gas sector which yesterday led to the closure of three fields.
The Oslo executive spoke yesterday evening, declaring that it wanted to refer the dispute to an independent committee after the Norwegian Oil and Gas Association group had warned that the abstention threatens to cause a cut in gas exports from Norway by nearly 60 percent.
"The announced escalation would be particularly critical in today's situation, both taking into account the energy crisis and the geopolitical situation in which we find ourselves, with a war in Europe. It is unjustifiable to allow gas production to stop," said the Norwegian Minister of Labor Mars. Mjos Persen in a statement.
Under Norwegian law, the government can force litigants in an employment dispute to go to a wage commission which will decide on the matter.
"Norwegians account for a quarter of Europe's energy supplies and Europe is entirely dependent on supplies from Norway at a time when cuts in Russian supplies have created a very narrow market for natural gas," said the Norwegian Oil and Gas Association.
Therefore "a strike of this magnitude poses enormous problems for countries that depend entirely on gas supply for autumn and winter", he added.
The unions have called on strike after the failure of a salary negotiation, in response to a proposal for a settlement.
According to the government, the parties had agreed "that they would end the strike so that everyone could get back to work as soon as possible."
(HANDLE).
