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Too Little, Too Late: Iceland’s Shambolic Housing Market
In the afternoon of June 25, 2020, a house on Bræðraborgarstígur in Reykjavík’s Miðbær neighbourhood was set ablaze. Smoke engulfed the western part of town and a majority of the downtown area, pooling over the city pond where warm air met cool…
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The Icelandic Roundup: Drugs, Fish, And Unions
It’s a blockbuster news week on The Icelandic Roundup, as journalists Josie Anne Gaitens and Valur Grettisson tackle the latest headlines regarding union leaders, fish farms and magic mushrooms. Please take the time to rate and review the Icelandic Roundup on your…
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Union Head Questions Why Top Gov’t Officials Get Percentage Pay Rises Beyond General Agreement
President of the Confederation of Icelandic Labour Unions (ASÍ) Drífa Snædal considers it strange that members of Parliament, government ministers, and the President are granted annual percentage-based salaries that go well beyond the same percentage granted to the Icelandic working class, RÚV…
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Labour, Management & Central Bank Square Off Over Inflation–And How To Stop It
There is no disputing that Iceland’s inflation rate has been steadily rising–from 4.3% in July 2021 to 7.6% in April 2022. The real question is what to do about it, and the Central Bank, business leaders, and union representatives all have different…
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Latest Icelandic Airline Takes To The Sky Among Labour Dispute
The newest Icelandic airline, PLAY, is officially in the air. Departing Keflavík Airport at 11:00 AM, the destination of the maiden voyage is Stanstead Airport, on the outskirts of London. CEO Birgir Jónsson expressed his satisfaction with the successful flight, stating that…
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Tips ‘n’ Tricks #2: Working Rights & Unions In Iceland
Tips ‘n’ Tricks is Grapevine’s new information series, where we give those of you newly arrived in Iceland—or hoping to be—some of the practical information you should know. In this edition, culture editor Hannah Jane Cohen and news editor Andie Sophia Fontaine…
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Icelandair Considers The Possibility Of Negotiating A New Trade Union For Flight Attendants
Proposals have been made to set up a new trade union for flight attendants unsupportive of the Icelandic Flight Attendant Union (FFÍ) negotiation committee’s policies, Vísir reports, citing news reported by Morgunblaðið’s “reliable sources” from their economics section earlier today. Icelandair is…
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Labour Rental Company Officially Bankrupt After Abuse Cases Brought To Light
In the midst of attempting a lawsuit against two labour officials for statements they made about the labour rental company, Menn Í Vinnu has officially gone bankrupt, RÚV reports. Those who feel as though the company owes them money—for back wages, for…
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Unions Approve New Agreement; Price Hikes Still In The Cards
The new collective agreement made between several unions and management has been approved by voting workers, but participation was in some cases lacking. A major food importer and manufacturer is still planning to move forward with price hikes, and retailers are nervous.…
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Voting On Collective Bargaining Agreement In Iceland Starts Today
If you work in Iceland, and your union is either Efling or VR, polls are now open to vote on the new collective agreement unions leaders accepted last week. In the Icelandic system of collective bargaining, it is not enough for union…
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Icelandair Hotels Reverses Position, Pays Employees For Strike Days
After extensive coverage of the matter yesterday, Icelandair Hotels have announced that they will be paying employees for last month’s strike days. As reported, union officials for Efling and VR were surprised to learn that Icelandair Hotels was deducting from the salaries…
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Icelandair Hotels Deducting From Pay Of Workers Who Went On Strike
Even though a collective bargaining agreement was reached last week between management and several labour unions, amongst them Efling and VR, RÚV reports that not all of the disputes have been resolved. In fact, a new development has risen amongst Efling and…
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Collective Bargaining Agreement In Iceland Reached
The labour union Efling and its allied unions (VR, LÍV, Framsýn, VLFA and VLFG) reached a collective bargaining agreement with representatives of management last night that also entails the direct involvement of government measures and Central Bank policy. “It is entirely possible…
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Directorate Of Labour: Labour Rental Company “A Criminal Practice”
The director of Iceland’s Directorate of Labour pulled no punches when talking about Menn í vinnu, a labour rental company that was one of the subjects of a recent investigative news piece about the exploitation of foreign workers in Iceland. The president…
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Foreign Workers Subjected To Exploitation, Unions And Police Now Involved
Representatives for the Icelandic Confederation of Labour Unions (ASÍ) and the police visited the living conditions of foreign workers, most of them from Romania, where it has come to light that they have been subjected to multiple instances of worker exploitation. The…
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VIDEO: Iceland Has Never Been A Classless Society, Union Heads Remind Public
A common myth, sometimes even repeated by Icelanders, is that Iceland is a classless society. In a new video, Iceland’s union leaders point out this has never been true. In the video, released by the Confederation of Icelandic Labour Unions (ASÍ), we…
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Two Enter, One Leaves: Iceland’s Labour Struggle
Iceland’s largest labour unions have been gearing up for an intense struggle for workers’ rights when collective bargaining negotiations begin in early 2019, with labour leaders working to reach a consensus on their demands. At the same time, Minister of Finance Bjarni…
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Cruising or Crashing? Iceland’s Economy in 2019
This year marked the tenth anniversary of the country’s economic collapse, bringing unprecedented attention to Iceland. The tourist salvation is slowing down and there is a fear among many that this industry’s success will be as fleeting as the banks’ brief boom.…
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Iceland’s Labour Leaders Gearing Up For Class War
Three labour leaders sat down with Icelandic public broadcasting to discuss their aims, and what step they are willing to take to achieve them. While they would like to raise the minimum wage, Icelandic employers have pushed back against the idea, prompting…
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Confederation Of Icelandic Labour Unions Elects First Woman President
Drífa Snædal has just become to first woman to be elected to the presidency of the Confederation of Icelandic Labour Unions (ASÍ) in the entire 102-year history of the organisation, according to an announcement from ASÍ. Drífa’s victory was a decisive one,…
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Trust Lacking in Looming Labour Talks In Iceland
According to an article published by RÚV, experts perceive a stark lack of trust between management and workers. The recent report commissioned by the office of Left-Green Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir stated that the maximum pay increase is only four percent. The…
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Ready for a Fight: Unions Prepare for Tough Wage Negotiations
The Office of Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir commissioned economics professor Gylfi Zoega to write a report about potential wage increases ahead of a series of tough negotiations, RÚV reports. Gylfi estimates that the maximum pay increase is 4%. He believes inflation would…
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There Is Power In The Union: Iceland’s Labour Revolution
Earlier this month, Icelanders witnessed a bloodless revolution. Efling, one of Iceland’s largest labour unions and comprised of some of the lowest-paid workers in the country, held elections for their board. Although voter participation was around 15%, some 80% of these voters…