Icelandair talks with aircraft engineers make no progress

Talks between Icelandair and aircraft engineers have made no progress, and a four-week deadline for negotiations has expired, union chairman Óskar Einarsson told mbl.is.

The Icelandic Aircraft Engineers Association and Icelandair agreed a month ago to call off a strike and use the following four weeks to negotiate a new collective agreement under a plan set by the state conciliator. The agreement was intended to prevent further harm to Icelandair, its customers and employees, and other interests, the parties said at the time.

“There is nothing to report. We met during the period we were given to try to reach an agreement, and that deadline has passed,” Óskar said. The parties met regularly during the dispute, with their most recent meeting on October 15. No further meeting has been scheduled.

Óskar said the meetings had produced no results and accused Icelandair’s side of showing little interest in reaching an agreement. He said the company was relying on the Confederation of Icelandic Enterprise, known as SA, for negotiating authority when it suited the company, and added that he was surprised Icelandair had not shown more willingness to reach a deal.

The union has not yet decided whether to call another strike. Óskar said it would first hold a membership meeting to review the situation.