ASÍ presidential candidate says Efling should stay

Arnaldur Grétarsson, a candidate for president of the Icelandic Confederation of Labour (ASÍ), says Efling should remain in the confederation, arguing that leaving would harm its members and others. He made the comments to mbl.is at the ASÍ congress.

Grétarsson said resolving the conflicts that have marked the confederation recently would be one of the new president’s main tasks. Efling chair Sólveig Anna Jónsdóttir said earlier on Wednesday that the union’s departure from ASÍ was a real possibility.

Grétarsson said similar statements had been made before, not only by Efling but by other groups, often ahead of ASÍ congresses. He said a departure could not be ruled out, but would be a serious matter. Any proposal to leave would have to be put forward by the union’s chair and board.

“I think it would be better for everyone if that did not happen,” he said, adding that Efling members could be particularly affected.

Asked how he would unite the confederation if elected, Grétarsson said there were no easy solutions, but that the labour movement, which is 110 years old, had tools to resolve disagreements. He said those tools should be used more.

He said he would focus initially on listening to different views within ASÍ and improving communication with its member unions, with the aim of finding common ground.