The meeting of the negotiation committees of BSRB and the Icelandic Association of Local Authorities (SÍS) at the state mediator’s offices concluded at noon without an agreement. No new meeting has been called, RÚV reports.
2,500 BSRB members on strike
On May 15, BSRB, Iceland’s largest federation of public sector unions, comprising 19 labour unions with some 23,000 members, began strike action as part of its ongoing negotiations with the Icelandic Association of Local Authorities (SÍS).
BSRB’s strike action has gradually ramped up with 2,500 members going on indefinite strike yesterday. As noted in a press release on BSRB’s website, the current strike affects about 150 workplaces in 29 municipalities and includes “staff in kindergartens, swimming pools, sports facilities, service centres, town offices, utility houses, and harbours.”
As noted by RÚV, both parties had stood firm before today’s meeting; BSRB is demanding a lump sum payment of ISK 128,000 ($904 / €847) to correct the disparity in the salaries of its members compared to other workers who are employed to do the same job. The Chair of the SÍS negotiating committee stated that the demand was unfounded.
In an interview with RÚV prior to the meeting, Sonja Ýr Þorbergsdóttir, Chair of BSRB, stated that the federation would not budge from its lump-sum demand: “The message is very clear. We do not have the authority to finalise collective agreements unless there is a guaranteed lump sum payment of ISK 128,000 in order to correct the discrepancy in the wages of our workers compared to people who are employed to do the same jobs … it is simply unacceptable for people to do the same jobs and be paid less. They are doing exactly the same tasks every day, and our people are tired of this inequality.”
Today’s negotiations, held at the offices of the state mediator, began at 10 AM and concluded at just before noon without an agreement being reached.
