Nurses strike talks collapse

Fresh talks with the Icelandic Association of Nurses (INA) on striking a pay deal and putting an end to strike action have collapsed within hours.

No progress in talks

“Nothing has changed from last week,” explains Chairman of the INA, Ólafur G. Skúlason. “The State has not been willing to accommodate our demands, despite our having reduced our pay claim considerably. We cannot accept that.”

The next step in this dispute is not clear, but no new meeting has been scheduled, according to Skúlason.

The other major Icelandic union currently on strike is the Icelandic Association of Academics (BHM), whose members include radiologists and vets. BHM also resumed talks with the State this morning and the meeting is still currently under way.

Legislation to halt strikes?

Today’s talks with the two unions have taken place under the shadow of possible government plans to legislate against current strike action.

Such legislation would bring the strikes to a halt and set a deadline for the various negotiating committees to strike a deal, failing which the case would be sent to a court of arbitration.

Icelandic Minister for Health, Kristján Þór Júlíusson, has not ruled out the use of such legislation, but has indicated that it must be a last resort. Skúlason is of the view that such a move would not solve the problem, as it could lead to nurses resigning entirely from the posts.

The Icelandic government is reportedly determined to put an end to the current strikes, but does not feel that legislation is a good option.

UPDATE: Talks with BHM also failed to reach a satisfactory conclusion and broke up late on Wednesday evening, after thirteen hours of negotiations.