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Norway Offshore Energy Strike Ends, Dispute Referred for Voluntary Arbitration, Trade Union Confirms

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The industrial dispute between the energy companies operating on the Norwegian continental shelf and workers covered by the well service agreement and represented by trade union Safe has been referred for voluntary arbitration, Safe has confirmed.

In an emailed statement shared with, the trade union said the two parties have agreed to voluntary arbitration following a request by national mediator Mats Ruland.

"This means that the strike and lockout have now ended, and all employees must return to work as soon as reasonably practicable," the statement said.

Voluntary arbitration is a process where the parties involved in an industrial dispute agree to refer their unresolved wage or collective bargaining dispute to a neutral third party for a final, binding decision.

A date for the voluntary arbitration proceedings has not been finalized yet due to the ongoing summer holidays, the statement said.

Earlier this month, industry group Offshore Norway said the dispute between workers and the energy companies operating on the Norwegian continental shelf had caused a combined historical and future production loss for operators of 2.4 million barrels of oil equivalent in 2026, or about 1.6 billion Norwegian krone ($164 million).

Offshore Norway represents energy exploration, production and supply companies working on the Norwegian continental shelf.

While the industry has been successful in reaching agreements with other trade unions representing about 75% to 80% of the employees covered by the well service agreement, negotiations are at a stalemate with trade union Safe, Stian Danielsen, communication manager for employer policy at Offshore Norway, said in an interview withearly July.

About 400 workers have been furloughed by offshore service providers on the Norwegian continental shelf following the dispute with dispute with employees covered under the well service agreement and represented by Safe, Danielsen said then.

In a statement issued July 14, Offshore Norway said the two parties "have agreed to refer the labour dispute, which has lasted for one month, to a voluntary wage board. As a result, both the strike and the lockout have ended."

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