Strikes: not out the woods yet

Friday saw a major breakthrough in Iceland’s ongoing wave of wage disputes. Collective agreements were signed with five major Icelandic unions and strike action potentially involving 70,000 members was averted.

Negotiations are still, however, incomplete for some 40,000 union members across the public and private sectors in Iceland.

Some of the outstanding issues – and risks of industrial action – are as follows:

Icelandic Association of Academics (BHM)

Some BHM members, including healthcare staff and vets, have been on strike since early April. The union was offered a similar deal to that offered to private-sector unions on Friday, but immediately rejected it, on the grounds that it did not satisfy the BHM’s main demand for higher levels of academic education to be reflected in wage levels. The negotiations are currently as a standstill and the strike continues.

ADDITIONAL: Staff at the Financial Management Authority (FJS) – members of BHM – will be downing tools for the second time at midnight tonight, this time indefinitely. This will affect invoicing for various State fees and disruption to taxpayers is expected.

Icelandic Nurse’s Association

The problems caused for hospitals by the BHM strike have been compound by a strike of some 2,100 nurses, which began last Wednesday. Talks collapsed again on Friday, despite general agreement on a new starting wage for nurses of ISK 359,000 (approx. €2,430). The Association remains committed to industrial action and is said to be waiting for a realistic offer from the government.

Craftsmen (various unions)

A group of six unions representing some 10,000 marine engineers, metal technicians, construction and industrial workers, electricians, printers and hairdressers are voting this morning on whether to come out on strike firstly on 10-16 June, then indefinitely from 24 August.

UPDATE: Craftsmen unions vote 75.1% favour in strike action.