A planned strike by employees of the Church of Norway has been avoided after a late-night agreement was reached on a new wage settlement. Negotiations concluded early Friday, resulting in a 4.4 percent wage increase for church workers. All employees will receive a minimum increase of 18,500 Norwegian kroner. Both labor unions and employer representatives expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the talks. The agreement also includes provisions for higher starting salaries, particularly for positions such as priests. The deal ensures continued operations within the Church of Norway and avoids disruption of services. The Norwegian news agency NTB reported the details of the finalized agreement.