Faroese healthcare union rejects mediation proposal, strike possible

Both the Faroese Healthcare Workers’ Union and the Municipal Employers’ Association (KAF) rejected a mediation proposal presented Wednesday evening by the Faroese Conciliation Board, ending negotiations without agreement, Kringvarp Føroya reports.

Mary Antonsdóttir, chair of the Healthcare Workers’ Union, called the proposal “unacceptable,” stating it failed to address key demands from the union’s 12 affiliated branches. “The offer was tied to conditions we could not accept—it excluded smaller groups and provided no real value for the majority,” she said.

Antonsdóttir criticized the timing of the proposal, which she said disrupted internal union consultations. “Other unions reached agreements with the Finance Committee, but we were not part of those talks. This proposal was pushed through before we could finish our own discussions.”

A strike is now under consideration, with the union’s board set to review the decision in the coming days. Faroese law requires a four-day notice period before any strike action. “We will assess the situation carefully,” Antonsdóttir said, acknowledging that a strike would significantly disrupt elderly care services, where the union’s 800 members—representing 58% of the workforce—are employed.

No exemptions would be made during a strike, she confirmed. Until a decision is reached, members will continue working as usual.