Security strike closes airports in Norway
A strike by 2500 security guards is increasingly affecting daily life for Norwegians. Twelve airports are closed and traffic is hampered on many others and cash machines across the country are starting to empty.
If the arbitration scheduled for Saturday does not result in an agreement, the strike could be further extended on Monday, with another 800 members of the Norwegian Union of General Workers called out, NRK.no reports.
In Finnmark the airports in Hammerfest and Lakselv are closed because of the strike. Passengers are transported by bus to the nearest operative airport. At the important airport in Tromsø, security guards can be called out to strike from Monday.
Oslo Airport Gardermoen has up to now been able to operate at normal capacity, but travelers are asked to meet early at the check-in, to beat the long line-ups.
The transport by helicopter from Bergen of workers to and from oil installations on the Norwegian Shelf was stopped Friday morning due to the strike. This accounts for 70 per cent of all transport of personnel to the platforms, according to NRK.
However, there is a slight hope that the strike may soon be over, after the National Arbitrator has asked the two sides to meet for arbitration on Saturday at 10 am. This was the result of a three-hour informal meeting Thursday morning, Norwaypost.no writes.
