The negotiating committees of the Association of Teachers in Primary and Lower Secondary Schools and the Icelandic Association of Local Authorities reached an agreement last night, Vísir reports.
Icelandic grade school teachers have been without a contract since June 1, having voted down two agreements reached by their representatives. The contract signed last night will be presented to union members today.
In recent weeks, more than a hundred teachers have resigned their jobs and others have threatened to do so.
The new contract is to take effect December 1 and be good through November 30 next year.
Ólafur Loftsson, who chairs the teachers’ association, remarked, “Of course the situation will be very difficult and complicated if this contract is voted down.” He added, “We, of course, signed, because we find the contract acceptable. We wanted to get further in the negotiations, but this is the result, and we believe the contract will be accepted. Hopefully, the result of this will be that those who have resigned decide to withdraw their resignations.”
Not until Monday, December 12, will the result of teachers’ voting on the contract be known.
