A split looms over Iceland’s labour confederation

A leadership election at the Icelandic Confederation of Labour (ASÍ) in the coming days could intensify a long-running dispute within the labour movement, mbl.is reports. Efling chair Sólveig Anna Jónsdóttir has raised the possibility that her union could leave the confederation, suggesting that more is at stake than the choice of its next president.

Two candidates are running for president: Georg Páll Skúlason, who has led Grafía, a trade union for workers in printing and media, for years, and Arnaldur Grétarsson, a former ASÍ social media specialist. Skúlason has held several roles in the labour movement, including leading the Icelandic Association of Trade Apprentices and serving on ASÍ’s executive board, though he has not been especially prominent in public debate.

Grétarsson worked at ASÍ for nearly five years and has not been known as a leader in wage negotiations or a trade union. Sólveig Anna has claimed that Halla Gunnarsdóttir, chair of VR, selected him as a candidate, but he has denied this. The article notes that a former ASÍ president, Ásmundur Stefánsson, also came from the confederation’s staff, but had already established a strong position in the labour movement.

The contest for first vice-president could prove more consequential than the presidential race. Halla, a former ASÍ director as well as VR chair, is running against Sólveig Anna, who leads Efling. Both are prominent figures in the labour movement and have clashed publicly.

Halla is considered likely to win, given the size of the bloc supporting her. Sólveig Anna is not running for another position and could leave ASÍ’s leadership. The confederation’s executive board has proposed reducing the number of vice-presidents from three to one. Halla supports the change, while Sólveig Anna says it is intended to give Halla control of the organisation. The proposal could become a central point of contention at the congress and further raise the risk of a split.

Disputes run deeper

Sólveig Anna has accused Halla of staging a dispute over extending collective agreements and acting against the interests of low-paid workers. Halla has rejected the accusations.

The disagreement also reflects the different interests of unions within ASÍ. The priorities of workers represented by Efling and the Federation of General and Special Workers do not necessarily align with those of VR members in retail and office work. VR represents a large and influential group, although its members have not been especially active. The union nevertheless has considerable power within ASÍ.