National mediator Mats Ruland took the initiative to find a solution today, Tuesday 14 July, and proposed a voluntary wage board as a possible way to bring the strike and lockout to an end. Both parties have agreed to this proposal.
A voluntary wage board is a mechanism that the parties in working life may agree to use in order to resolve a labour dispute. It is used instead of compulsory arbitration. This means that the dispute will be decided by an independent tribunal at a later date.
– I am very pleased that the national mediator took the initiative for this solution, and that SAFE chose to participate in order to end this costly conflict. Work will resume as soon as practically possible, says Elisabeth Brattebø Fenne, chief negotiator and director of labour relations at Offshore Norge.
