Strike ends at Statoil-operated Mongstad refinery

Sept. 18, 2002
A workers' strike—which had been affecting vessel traffic to and from Statoil ASA's Mongstad refinery as well as reducing that plant's output—was called off late Monday.

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, Sept. 18 -- A workers' strike—which had been affecting vessel traffic to and from Statoil ASA's Mongstad refinery as well as reducing that plant's output—was called off late Monday after an agreement was reached between the two sides.

A group of 45 workers began an official strike at midnight Sept. 9, although members of the Confederation of Vocational Unions (YS) had been seeking to take strike action since late August, Statoil said. Finally, however, a settlement was reached between the YS and the Norwegian Oil Industry Association. An additional 43 Statoil employees in the Norwegian Association of Salaried Employees had joined the strike Monday.

"We're glad to have achieved a solution (that) is satisfactory to both sides," said Jostein Gaasemyr, chief negotiator for Statoil, adding that he was "particularly gratified" that an accord was achieved before turnaround work was due to start Wednesday at the refinery.

"Agreement was reached in the negotiations that the framework agreement for company-level pay deals should also apply to (ExxonMobil unit) Esso's Slagentangen refinery near Oslo and to pipeline operator Gassco," Statoil said in a written statement.