LAST DITCH EFFORTS TO AVERT A NORWEGIAN BANK STRIKE FAILED SATURDAY, TRIGGERING A RUSH ON CASH MACHINES (ATMS), DPA REPORTED. THE STRIKE, THE FIRST TO AFFECT THE NORWEGIAN BANKING SECTOR IN 30 YEARS, WAS TO TAKE AFFECT MONDAY AND MEANS SHUT BANKS AND EMPTY ATMS. REGULAR ELECTRONIC COMMERCE WOULD ALSO BE HIT BY THE STRIKE, AND IT WOULD ALSO HALT PAYING BILLS VIA BANK CARDS OR INTERNET BANKING. THE FINANCIAL SECTOR UNION THAT ORGANIZES BANK WORKERS SAID SOME 1,600 MEMBERS WOULD GO ON STRIKE FROM MONDAY WHILE THE EMPLOYER'S ORGANIZATION COUNTERED WITH A LOCKOUT OF 24,000 WORKERS IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR, LOCAL MEDIA REPORTED. THE GOVERNMENT HAS SAID IT WOULD NOT INTERVENE, BUT LABOUR MINISTER BJARNE HAKON HANSSEN HAD A MEETING FRIDAY WITH THE PARTIES URGING THEM TO RESOLVE THE CONFLICT OVER PENSION RIGHTS. HANSSEN ISSUED A STATEMENT TO NORWEGIAN NEWS AGENCY NTB, SAYING THE GOVERNMENT WAS MONITORING THE SITUATION.
