[OSLO] Workers operating oil rigs off Norway reached a deal yesterday in wage talks with employers to avert a strike after similar negotiations with other oil sector workers broke down in recent weeks.

Two unions representing workers who operate oil drilling rigs reached a deal with the Norwegian Shipowners' Association, representing their employers, the Safe and Industri Energi unions said.

"We achieved results for some of our demands but had to compromise on other demands in this particular instance," Hilde-Marit Rysst, head of Safe, said in a statement. "We are pleased with the overall financial settlement," Leif Sande, head of the Industri Energi union, said separately.