From Iceland — Uncertainty Surrounds Collective Bargaining Agreement

Uncertainty Surrounds Collective Bargaining Agreement

Published October 31, 2013

The general collective bargaining agreement is running out soon, and union leaders say there are still unanswered questions.
The general collective bargaining agreement – which determines, among other things, wages and benefits for workers on the labour market – will be running out in about a month. This agreement is made regularly, usually every few years, and is negotiated between The Confederation of Icelandic Labour Unions (ASÍ), the Confederation of Icelandic Employers (SA) and the government.
RÚV reports that ASÍ is less than pleased with the current state of affairs. They say that the government has not reached out to union officials, nor introduced to them any government plan of action regarding the weakness of the krónur, nor how to deal with inflation, among other things.
ASÍ also says that it is out of the question that the collective bargaining agreement deadline will be extended.
The union rather recommends that a new agreement be made that covers the next six months to one year, as a short term stop-gap measure. Furthermore, they believe the government should be doing more to boost the social welfare system, contending that a strong social system reduces poverty and social isolation.

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