Strike shuts five airports
Thousands of travelers were left stranded Friday morning after workers went on strike at five Norwegian airports. Talks between their union and Avinor, which is responsible for air traffic control services in Norway. failed to result in a settlement.
 Flights in and out of the affected airports were cancelled Friday morning. PHOTO: MORTEN HOLM/SCANPIX |
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Bergen is among the worst-hit by the walkout, after its airport was forced to close because it no longer had enough staffing to handle an emergency.
The other airports affected are those serving Harstad and Narvik in northern Norway, Molde, Mo i Rana and Mosjøen.
Some workers at Norway's main international gateway airport, the Oslo airport at Gardermoen (OSL), also walked off the job but OSL was able to remain open. All flights to the airports that are closed, however, were cancelled.
The airport at Kristiansund on Norway's northwest coast will likely close from Sunday if the strike continues.
Only 220 workers spread over the five airports were taken out during the first phase of the strike, but that was enough to leave the airports short of adequate emergency personnel.
State mediator Svein Longva said the two sides in the conflict "were so far apart that there was no basis to put forward a proposed settlement that could be recommended by both parties."
The conflict is primarily over wages. Avinor "simply didn't offer enough money," said a union representative.
If no progress is made in subsequent negotiations, another 158 workers will go on strike at the airports in Oslo, Alta, Leknes, Sandnessjøen, ,Sogndal, Svolvær and Stavanger from May 20. Oslo's airport was hoping to keep its international operations functioning. Passengers were advised to stay in touch with their airlines for information on departures and arrivals.
Nina Berglund/NTB
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