Norwegian Union Threatens Strike at Fields

A Norwegian union threatened a strike at offshore oil fields that could cut nearly one-third of the nation’s production of roughly 3 million barrel per day unless talks that began Monday settle a new contract.

The union said it would order a strike by more than 500 members, which would shut down most of the state-controlled oil company Statoil ASA’s production, unless a new contract is settled by midnight Tuesday. Norwegian wage talks often continue many hours past the formal deadline.