Union leader predicts Icelanders will reject EU talks

Sólveig Anna Jónsdóttir, chair of the Efling labour union, says she is optimistic that Icelanders will reject a proposal to begin European Union accession talks in a referendum on August 29, mbl.is reported.

She spoke at a public meeting organised by Áfram Ísland in Reykjanesbær on Thursday, attended by nearly 400 people.

“It is absolutely clear that the interests of workers employed in Iceland would never be better served within the European Union,” Sólveig told Morgunblaðið.

She said Iceland’s labour market model was not perfect, but was nevertheless one of the best in the world. Workers in Iceland had strong legal rights to fight for and negotiate the value of their labour, she said.

“There is nothing I believe the European Union could offer workers in Iceland in exchange for what we already have,” Sólveig said.

She criticised the government’s decision to hold the referendum, saying it had left several issues that the authorities had said they would focus on largely unresolved.

“I truly wish they had not decided to take this path,” she said.

Sólveig acknowledged that she had at times been worried about the result. However, after attending the meeting and seeing a highly diverse group of people come together, she said she was now optimistic that the no side would win.