The Icelandic Association of Midwives has voted to approve a new employment contract with a 95% majority. RÚV reported first. An overwhelming 91% of members voted on the deal.
When national broadcaster RÚV contacted chairperson of the Association of Midwives Katrín Sif Sigurgeirsdóttir for comment, she had not yet been informed of the outcome of the vote. Katrín expressed dissatisfaction that the government’s negotiation committee would publish the results online without informing the midwives’ negotiation committee first.
“We thought the results would be presented to us at two o’clock,” Katrín stated. “This really is the cherry on top of our relations with the government.”
The contract approval brings to a close a 10-month-long wage dispute between the association and the government. Midwives asserted their salaries did not reflect their level of education or the responsibilities inherent to their profession. Over 20 midwives resigned from their positions, most at the National University Hospital, as a result of the dispute. It remains to be seen whether they will return to their jobs.
