Voting is underway on potential strike action at nine schools in Iceland. The Chair of the Icelandic Teachers’ Union has called for greater investment in the educational system. More schools are likely to vote on strikes in the near future.
Voting on strike action underway
A vote is currently underway regarding potential strikes at nine schools: four preschools, three primary schools, one secondary school, and one school of music, Vísir reports. The names of the schools will not be disclosed unless union members at the respective schools approve the strike, according to Magnús Þór Jónsson, Chairperson of the Icelandic Teachers’ Union.
“For the first time, we are not calling for a general strike but instead targeting specific workplaces, leaving it up to [union members at these schools] to decide whether or not to strike,” Magnús Þór stated in an interview with RÚV yesterday.
The strike is planned to begin at these nine schools at midnight on October 29. The strike at primary and secondary schools will be temporary, while an indefinite strike has been called for preschools.
Magnús Þór described the proposed strike action as “a first phase of action,” with more schools set to vote on strikes in the future.
Closing the gap between the public and private sector
As noted by RÚV, the dispute primarily concerns wage equalisation between the private and public sectors. Collective agreements of union members negotiating with municipalities have been unresolved since the end of May.
Secondary school unions – the Association of Secondary School Teachers (FF) and the Association of Secondary School Administrators (FS) – negotiating with the state referred their wage dispute to the state mediator on September 26. FF and FS have been without an agreement since March 31.
As noted in an announcement on the Teachers’ Union website, the state mediator convened the parties for a meeting on Monday, October 7, with the next meeting scheduled for today, October 9. Voting on the strike action began at noon yesterday and will conclude on Thursday, October 10.
Investing in the education system
In an interview with Vísir yesterday, Magnús Þór stated that the key issue for the Teacher’s Union was for society to “invest in the education system.” Magnús noted that the strike actions were simply part of the ongoing wage negotiations.
“The rules require us to give ample notice of such actions. Now, we have this voting period, which has been announced. By midday on Thursday, it will become clear whether these [nine schools] have decided to strike in support of our cause.”
Magnús Þór emphasised that the goal was to resolve the dispute.
“We need to push for discussions about investing in teachers and filling schools with professionals. It is certainly time for us, representatives of the Teachers’ Union, and public employers to resolve this before any strike action is taken, which will be at the end of the month,” Magnús Þór observed.
