The wage increase demands for many of the unions heading for a general strike could be met, if the draft for a new collective bargaining agreement passes. Update below.
Kjarninn reports that the new agreement would grant an immediate minimum wage increase to 245,000 ISK for workers within the unions VR, the Commercial Federation of Iceland (LÍV), StéttVest and Flóabandalagið (“The Bay Alliance”), a labour union umbrella consisting of the unions Efling, Hlíf and the Labour and Seamen’s Association of Keflavík. This minimum wage would then increase to 300,000 ISK in May 2018.
At the same time, RÚV reports a similar agreement has been drafted for workers within the Federation of General and Special Workers in Iceland (SGS), with a minimum wage increase to 300,000 ISK for their workers to go into effect on May 1, 2018, if approved. SGS chairperson Björn Snæbjörnsson told reporters that while exact figures still needed to be agree upon, he was “very pleased” with the offer being proposed.
As reported, all of these unions were headed for a general strike on June 6 if their demands were not met. In total, up to 70,000 workers could have taken part, comprising nearly half the country’s total workforce. In addition, the worker demands had overwhelming public support, adding pressure on management to comply.
Finalisation talks are to begin today, and continue through the week.
UPDATE: These collective bargaining agreements have been signed. Nurses, however, are still on strike and negotiating.
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