Icelandic teachers’ strike set to begin if negotiations fail before Tuesday

The Icelandic teachers’ strike, recently declared lawful by the Social Court, is set to commence on Tuesday if no agreements are reached beforehand. The Icelandic Teachers’ Association was acquitted of allegations that the planned strikes were organized unlawfully.

Leader Magnús Þór Jónsson indicated that strikes will begin in 11 schools next week. He noted that much time was consumed preparing for the court case, leaving less opportunity for negotiations. However, with the court’s ruling, negotiation committees will be able to resume their work on reaching agreements with teachers.

A meeting has been called by the National Mediator for 1 PM today. According to Magnús, there is limited time remaining to finalize negotiations before the strikes are scheduled to start. “It is clear that strikes will go ahead on Tuesday unless we are able to resolve this matter by then,” he stated.

Magnús emphasized the need for investment in teachers, stating that this would lead to increased professionalism and stability within the educational system. He referenced a 2016 agreement that highlighted the need for wage parity between different sectors as a key factor in resolving the issue and calling off the strike.

When asked about the differences between the parties, Magnús acknowledged significant gaps remain, asserting that it is obvious there is a lot of work to be done to reach an agreement.