Workers across 4 Elkem sites on strike

OSLO, Norway—Workers across four of Elkem A.S.A.'s plants in Norway have started an industrial action as the negotiations between unions and employers broke down on Aug. 13.

The strike, which is taking place across 10 Norwegian electrochemical companies, started on Aug. 15 and includes workers from Elkem plants in Salten, Rana, Thamshavn and Fiskaa, Elkem said.

"Elkem is now working to evaluate the operational impacts for each plant ... (which) will also be influenced by the duration of the strike," said the Norwegian silicon products and silicones supplier.

A total of 1,422 workers represented by Norway's Industri Energi union have gone on strike, 169 of which work at Elkem Salten, 89 at Elkem Rana, 131 at Elkem Thamshavn and 46 at Elkem Carbon A.S.

Elkem's plants at Bremanger and Bjoelvefossen and the company's other activities in Norway are not included.

According to its website, Elkem's Thamshavn facility manufactures metallurgical silicon used in the production of silicones, polysilicon and ceramics.

The Rana site produces nine grades of specialty and standard ferrosilicon, with an annual capacity of 90,000 metric tons per year (90 ktpa) of FeSi and 23 ktpa of Elkem Microsilica.

Operational since 1967, the Salten site's main products are silicon with purity in the range of 96-99 percent and Microsilica.

The Fiskaa site manufactures carbon products, including electrode paste and synthetic graphite.