Striking unions in silent protest

A silence demonstration by striking unions is currently under way outside the Government Offices of Iceland in central Reykjavik.

Members of the Icelandic Association of Academics (BHM) and the Icelandic Nurse’s Association (INA) were waiting in silence for the arrival of Icelandic Prime Minister, Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, who was due to arrive for this morning’s cabinet meeting.

The protestors’ aim is to further raise awareness of the ongoing wage disputes between the State and nurses and public servants. Negotiations appear currently to be in complete deadlock.

Icelandic Minister for Health, Kristján Þ. Júlíusson, has recently declared that he has not ruled out legislating against strike action by nurses, a move which INA has said would solve nothing, but would simply delay strike action and lead some nurses to resign.