Negotiations between Norwegian oil workers and employers failed on Sunday. Both sides said that they are unable to agree on retirement and pay issues. Workers have been on a partial strike since June 24, and have effected oil exports by about 13%. The union says that unless the company makes an offer that they will not return to negotiations, and said that they hoped the government stayed out of the dispute. The company said that they also have no plans to negotiate, but thought that the government might intervene. The government has the power to force arbitration, a move that has been criticized in the past. The company has said that they will lockout all offshore workers on July 10.
See "Norway oil pay talks fail again, shutdown looms", Nerijus Adomaitis, Chicago Tribune, July 8, 2012