BSRB Strike Could Mean Closure Of State Alcohol Stores, Efling Pauses Strike Actions

If the planned strike of workers for The Federation of State and Municipal Employees (BSRB) goes through, it may mean the temporary closure of one Reykjavík’s cultural mainstays: ÁTVR, also known as the state run alcohol store.

As reported, BSRB announced last month that 87.6% of workers within the union who participated in the vote voted in favour of strike actions. This will apply to some 15,400 workers in 15 different trade unions.

The strike is expected to directly affect health care workers, including those working for Landspítali hospital, as well as workers at playschools, primary schools, and afterschool centres. However, MBL points out that this would also apply to ÁTVR workers, as they are state employees.

If no deal is reached, these closures would occur on March 9, 10, 17, 18, 24, 26, 31 and April 1, and then again from April 15 to April 25.

Meanwhile, the Reykjavík city workers for the labour union Efling, who have been on strike since February 17, have just announced a two-day pause on strike actions pending new negotiations with the city.

The offer concerns raising the base salary for Efling city workers by some 110,000 ISK over the contract period. This pay rise is what Efling believes acceptable enough for workers to return to their jobs, with other aspects of the collective bargaining agreement to be worked out in the meantime.

The mayor has until 16:00 today to respond.