Strike closes five Norwegian airports

Oslo, Norway -- A strike at five airports in Norway left thousands of travelers stranded Friday, officials said.

Only about 220 workers spread over the five airports walked off the job, but that was enough to leave the airports short staffed, Aftenposten reported.

The Bergen airport was forced to close because it did not have sufficient staffing to handle an emergency, the newspaper said. Other airports affected by the strike are Harstad and Narvik in northern Norway, Molde, Mo i Rana and
Mosjoen.

Although some workers walked off the job at Oslo's airport, the facility was able to remain open.

Flights to the closed airports were canceled.

If progress is not made in future negotiations, another 158 workers will go on strike next week at airports in Oslo, Alta, Leknes, Sandnessjoen, Sogndal,
Svolvaer and Stavanger.

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."

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.