“Inexcusable” that children are still at home
Stefánsdóttir says many parents are in a very difficult situation due to teacher strikes. Composite image/sent to mbl.is/Eggert
“Given how this looks in the media, of course, you are not sitting at the negotiating table yourself, but our children have been at home for four weeks without anything happening. I think it is inexcusable and we want an explanation for this.”
This is what Jóhanna Dröfn Stefánsdóttir, the mother of a child at a preschool where teachers have been on strike for four weeks, says. Preschool teacher strikes are indefinite, unlike teacher strikes at other school levels, which are temporary.
Stefánsdóttir has written several articles that have been published on Vísir.is in which she describes the difficult situation many parents face due to the strikes. In the most recent one, she stated that she knew of at least three who had lost their jobs during this time because they could not come to work. In addition, many had finished their summer holidays and were looking forward to receiving a considerably smaller payment just before Christmas. Apart from the negative effects on children, many of whom sit in front of a computer or TV for up to eight hours a day, while their parents work.
“This has increased in recent weeks, with people getting into more and more trouble, and this has come up in conversations with other parents.”
People are mainly unhappy with the uncertainty
Stefánsdóttir says that parents with children in kindergartens where teachers are on strike talk to each other a lot and compare their situation.
“I think it is so important that people see how serious the situation has become. I don’t think most people realize it.”
She points out that only a few schools participate in strikes, and therefore they attract little attention, except from those feeling its direct impact on their lives. Teachers in four kindergartens have been on indefinite strikes since October 29, and parents have repeatedly asked the Icelandic Teachers’ Union to change the methodology so that strikes would be temporary and schools would be rotated.
“It’s so incredibly bad not knowing when this will end and what to expect. If you had an end date, you might try to let it go until then. I think that’s what people are most unhappy with, that’s this uncertainty,” she says.
“What we wanted to emphasize is that we are completely against this methodology, but the teachers’ wage struggle and the fact that they want to negotiate better conditions, that’s a whole other matter,” she adds.
Number of children in a very vulnerable position
Stefánsdóttir points out that in her daughter’s kindergarten, about a third of the children are of foreign origin and the situation has a particularly bad effect on those who have been learning Icelandic in the kindergarten.
Then the situation of their parents is the worst, as many have no support.
“They are very poorly informed, no one talks to them. Many of them are in a much more vulnerable position than the others. I am extremely worried about these children.”
Stefánsdóttir also says she is worried about disabled children who are not granted an exemption.
“You hear from those families that the situation at home has become very bad.”
Stefánsdóttir herself says she is in a better position than many others, but it is still a big puzzle to make things work and organize her days so that she can both do her job and look after her daughter.
“She lives in two homes, with me and her dad and that is quite a lot of trouble in itself. Now it is even more trouble, she is going between homes, and she is going to her grandparents. We are just taking it one day at a time.”
No one seems to be thinking about the children now
As for her daughter, she feels sad that she is missing out on precious time at the preschool.
“She is definitely doing well compared to many other children, but this is still having an impact. If you think about how big a part of their short lives this is, it has become very serious. Like now Christmas is coming, the first one she will properly remember. There is no such thing as a Christmas party. Her birthday is in December, she will miss it at the kindergarten. Of course, these are minor issues in the big picture, but it all adds up,” she says.
“During Covid, every effort was made to keep kindergartens open because it was considered so important for the kids, but now no one seems to be thinking about it or remembering it.”
Stefánsdóttir has sent emails, called, and tried to get in touch with various parties: the leadership of the Teachers’ Union, the Association of Icelandic Local Authorities, politicians, and the President of Iceland in the hope that someone will take action on the matter or try to get the leadership of the Icelandic Teachers’ Union to change its methodology in the strike actions. However, this has yielded little success. She would especially like to hear from the President of Iceland.
“She spoke a lot in her election campaign about taking care of children and young people. I would like to get her to comment on this issue but I have not received any response yet.”
The Teachers’ Union has the power to change the method
Parents have repeatedly contacted the Children’s Ombudsman and Stefánsdóttir finds it strange that she cannot do more in the matter, as the interests of children are at stake. However, the Children’s Ombudsman has published a statement on its website stating that children are being discriminated against in this dispute, in terms of their right to education.
Stefánsdóttir points out that the Teachers’ Union has the power to change the method so that the few children affected by the strike get some breathing space. This would also get more parents on board with the Teachers’ Union.
“I think it is completely accurate to say that this method is putting pressure on the contracting parties. It hasn't paid off so far, so I think it's time to change tactics.”
