An eight hour strike by members of the Icelandic Nurses’ Association and the Union of Public Servants (SFR) who work for institutions in the Confederation of Welfare Service Organizations (Samtaka fyrirtækja í velferðarþjónustu) began at 8 am this morning. This is the first of three planned strikes. Around 500 nurses are taking part in today’s strike, ruv.is reports.
According to the Kristín Á. Guðmundsdóttir, head of the Nurses’ Association, the nurses’ main demand is that members who work in institutions in the Confederation of Welfare Service Organizations (Samtaka fyrirtækja í velferðarþjónustu) be given similar rights to civil servants.
Nurses are also demanding that an equal pay initiative signed by the last government be extended to employees working for institutions which fall under the Confederation of Welfare Service Organizations.
If an agreement is not reached, nurses plan to go on strike until further notice.
