Teachers’ union prepares for strikes at nine schools in Iceland starting tomorrow

Members of the teachers’ union are preparing for potential strikes at nine schools starting tomorrow. Negotiation committees met this morning, but no agreement was reached.

Union leaders for teachers and municipalities have noted significant gaps in the ongoing discussions and anticipate strikes will commence at midnight tomorrow. Four preschools are among those affected:

– Seltjarnarnes Preschool
– Holt Preschool in Reykjanesbær
– Drafnarsteinn Preschool in Reykjavík
– Ársalir Preschool in Sauðárkrókur

These strikes will be indefinite. Temporary strikes are also set to begin at three elementary schools:

– Áslandsskóli
– Laugalækjarskóli
– Lundarskóli in Akureyri

These temporary strikes are expected to last from October 29 to November 22. Additionally, a strike will initiate at one secondary school:

– Fjölbrautaskóli Suðurlands

This secondary school strike will also run from October 29 until December 20. Moreover, teachers will strike temporarily at:

– Ísafjörður Music School

This strike is also scheduled until December 20.

Negotiations involving the teachers’ union, municipalities, and the government commenced this morning at the National Mediator’s office, with a final push to reach consensus before strikes proceed. The teachers’ union president has stated they do not plan to postpone strikes without reaching an agreement.

Inga Rún Ólafsdóttir, chairwoman of the municipal negotiating committee, emphasized the urgency of reaching an accord, but acknowledged the difficulties ahead. The realities of the situation are further echoed by the teachers’ union, which regrets not making more progress in their discussions.