The Full argument in the FLUFF about oil drilling in Lofoten – the Norwegian broadcasting corporation

It brews up to a hefty violation in LO on environmental impact assessment in marine areas outside Lofoten and Vesterålen.

Next year is the question high on the regarding the LO-congress, which is held every four years.

Said yes four years ago

At the previous congress in 2013 adopted the LO to work for an environmental impact assessment in closed and unopened parts of the Barents sea, the Norwegian sea and the Skagerrak.

But the time there was a significant minority consisting of, among other things Fellesorganisasjonen and Norwegian Tjenestemannslag that would protect the waters outside Lofoten, Vesterålen and Senja.

What happens in congress next year is not clarified, but recently passed congress to the Commerce and the Office that they should follow in the tracks of the trade union and the Norwegian Tjenestemannslag and support the setting to protect the areas outside Lofoten, Vesterålen and Senja against oil drilling. Also El – and IT-connected has notified that they support the proposal.

Thus increasing the probability of a majority for the protection of the LO-congress in may next year.

Facts about oil exploration in Lofoten, Vesterålen and Senja

• Discussion about whether it should be opened for oil drilling in the waters outside Lofoten, Vesterålen and Senja, have raged since the mid-1970s.
• the Right and the progress party want oil operations in these areas, and the Ap want to konsekvensutrede areas. The other parties in Parliament will not have petroleum activities in these areas.
• the Right and the progress party are in this election period bound by the cooperation agreement with the Progress and Left, saying that it is not to be opened for an impact assessment of the areas.
• Opponents fear the consequences for nature, the environment, the fishing industry and tourism by a large oljeuhell. Supporters believe the likelihood of an accident is very low.
• the Norwegian petroleum directorate estimates that in total there are 1.3 billion barrels of oil equivalent in the investigated sea areas outside Lofoten, Vesterålen and Senja. 36 per cent of instances are gas, 64% oil.

Source: NTB

– Not “our LO”

But it provokes more industritunge trade unions in the LO.

During the LOs oil and gasskonferanse that this week will be held in Bodø, it takes more to prepare for the break with the LO, and create their own industrikartell on the outside of the Norwegian confederation of trade, type Frifagbevelse.no.

Roar Abrahamsen, who is the head of the largest department in the trade unions, the Department 5 on the west coast, believes it is useriøst to require the permanent protection of Lofoten, Vesterålen and Senja.

He has with him Day Unnar Mongstad in Industry, Energy, and Atle Tranøy from the trade unions when he proposes to break with the LO in a petition that became known today, according to Newspaper news agency.

The three fears a LO where symbolpolitikk from public officials and Trade and the Office lays the premises for the industripolitikken. It is not “our FLUFF”, they write.

About the LO-congress overkjører industry, should management in Industry, Energy, trade unions and any other “to consider initiating a process and debate for utmeldelse of the LO in order to establish a Industrikartell between the said associations”, called it in a statement.

To NRK elaborates on the Roar Abrahamsen in the trade unions, why they want to start a debate about utmeldelse.

If they are public employees overkjører industry at the LO congress next year, can’t we live with it. It is usolidarisk to suggest lasting protection without regard to industry, employment and welfare.

– Is this a declaration of war?

Call it what you will. But I believe it is honest and fair, and I am convinced that we have with us the industry in LO on our requirements.