Contract negotiations with Icelandair mechanics failed yesterday, meaning their threatened strike is going ahead today, causing disruption to flights.
The 24-hour mechanics’ strike began at 06.00 this morning. If a new contract deal is not agreed before Thursday, the mechanics will go on strike indefinitely.
Today’s one-day strike has led to Icelandair canceling 65 flights, which affects about 12,000 passengers.
A spokesman for the mechanics says there is still some way to go before the two sides agree on a deal, but that yesterday’s meeting was more positive than he had imagined it would be.
The government could step in and outlaw an indefinite mechanics’ strike, but there is political reluctance to do so. The Icelandic interior minister has said she would only do so in emergency circumstances, and would want to call parliament in from its summer break as well.
There is hope that a new contract can be reached before Thursday.
In the meantime Icelandair is trying to minimize passenger disruption by scheduling extra flights tomorrow and offering full refunds to those who wish to cancel.
