Demanding a 25% increase in wages
The strike is negatively impacting all all travel to and from the country during those strike days. mbl.is/Eggert Jóhannesson
Air traffic controllers demand a 25% pay increase in their collective bargaining negotiations with Isavia. This is revealed from a source of Morgunbladid.
The total salary of air traffic controllers in Iceland last year, according to Statistics Iceland, amounted to ISK 1,584 thousand per month, of which the basic salary was ISK 915 thousand, and the total salary amounted to ISK 1,584 thousand per month, i.e., salary for the amount of the hours worked during regular day hours and shift work and overtime, plus irregular payments.
Hoping for a solution
“There is still a big gap, but as long as talks are ongoing, there is hope,” Sigríður Margrét Oddsdóttir, CEO of the Confederation of Icelandic Enterprise, SA, told Morgunbladid when asked about the progress of the wage negotiations with the Icelandic Federation of Air Traffic Controllers, FÍF.
Air traffic controllers at the negioating table last Monday. mbl.is/Kristinn Magnússon
SA will handle the negotiation mandate on behalf of Isavia. The negotiation committees met at a meeting with the state’s mediator at midday yesterday, Tuesday, but in the afternoon the meeting was closed and the next meeting was called tomorrow
No comment on increase demand
When asked about the demands of the FÍF, Oddsdóttir said that she was not allowed to disclose them. The parties were talking to each other, but it was positive that the parties were talking. As for the demand of the FÍF to increase wages by 25%, she did not want to comment.
Arnar Hjálmsson director of FÍF would not confirm the demand for a 25% pay increase.
Issues with the strikes next week
The air traffic controllers have scheduled another work strike tomorrow, Thursday, and two more in the following week, Monday and Wednesday. According to the newspaper’s sources, SA is concerned of the legality of the pending strike next week, both in terms of form and timing, and asked about it, Oddsdóttir responded:
“We have made it clear that we have issues about the convening of the strikes next week.”
Keflavík airport. mbl.is/Eggert Jóhannesson
The impact will be much greater on Thursday
Guðni Sigurðsson, information representative for Icelandair, says Thursdays are considerably more busy than Tuesdays for Icelandair.
“There were 4,700 passengers affected yesterday, but on Thursday it is expected that there will be about 8,300,” he says. “There is a substantial increase in traffic on Thursdays and a tighter schedule, and then it will have a greater impact into the day.”
According to Sigurðsson, Icelandair managed to recover from the strike before the afternoon traffic yesterday, but he says there is more uncertainty about tomorrow. “This has a big impact on thousands of passengers and their plans. The measures are similar, but because the traffic is more intense on Thursdays, it has a bigger impact.”
20 flights disrupted at Play
Birgir Olgeirsson, the information officer for Play, says that 20 flights will be disrupted on Thursday by Play, whereas 19 were disrupted yesterday. Thursday's flights will mainly include arrivals from North America, which will delay departures to Europe by a few hours, and departures to Europe.
“We managed to get all our passengers to their destination, so it went well, even though it’s not a good situation,” he says, asked how he has managed to respond to the effects of yesterday’s work strike.
He says Play's executives need to weigh whether there are grounds for taking legal action following the air traffic controller's work strike. "We are looking at all the options in the situation, this is a big disruption for our business."
