STRIKE: No deal likely today

There will be no deal to end the strike today and any agreement is a long way off, says the head of one of the two civil-servant unions that downed tools in Iceland at midnight last night.

Speaking to mbl.is, Árni Stefán Jónsson, Director of the Icelandic Union of Public Servants (SFR) indicated that no new ideas have emerged during today’s talks. Thousands of civil servants stayed away from work today, in protest at pay and work conditions.

While the negotiating parties are reportedly working hard on certain “ideological and methodological issues”, there is great difference of opinion and talks are very fragile.

“There will be no deal [to avert action continuing into tomorrow] reached today,” says Jónsson. “There is some way to go yet.”

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