Small-boat owners and unions plan first contract signing in 14 years

Unions representing seafarers are expected to sign a new collective agreement with Iceland’s National Association of Small Boat Owners before noon on Friday, mbl.is reports. The parties have not signed an agreement in 14 years.

“Yes, there is a good chance of signing, but with labour disputes nothing is certain until the signatures are on paper,” said Kjartan Páll Sveinsson, chairman of the association.

The agreement is being negotiated with the Icelandic Seamen’s Union, VM, the Association of Marine Engineers and Metal Technicians, and the Association of Ship Officers. The Seafarers’ and Fishermen’s Federation took part in the previous agreement, but was dissolved in 2017 and its responsibilities were taken over by the Association of Ship Officers.

The previous agreement was signed 14 years ago and expired at the end of January 2014. It remains in force until a new one is concluded. Sveinsson said the delay was mainly because the unions first wanted to complete agreements with large-scale fishing companies represented by the Association of Companies in Fisheries.

The new agreement will partly follow the terms of that deal. Its biggest change is a substantial increase in pension contributions, Sveinsson said. He added that small-boat operators differ from large fishing companies, with smaller crews and lower turnover.