Icelandic labor union files case against company for threatening Spanish employee over union membership

A labor union in Iceland, the South Iceland Workers’ Union, has filed a case against a travel service company after it allegedly threatened a Spanish employee with termination if he joined the union. This case represents the first instance where the union has brought legal action over so-called “union busting,” a practice that involves intimidating employees about potential job loss for union membership. The case is currently under consideration by the Labour Court.

The employee, identified as Bernat Pujol Alemany, had been working for the travel company for some time when he expressed his intention to join the union. His employer, Ingólfur Ragnar Axelsson, reportedly warned him via Slack that he would lose his job if he proceeded with his plans.

According to Guðrún Elín Pálsdóttir, the union’s chairperson, the communications between Ingólfur and Bernat are vital evidence in the case against the company operating Hotel Drangshlíð in Öræfi, which is linked to this issue. Guðrún described the situation as an example of how foreign labor is being manipulated in Iceland and emphasized the necessity to stop such practices.

Ragnar Þór Ingólfsson, the chairman of another labor organization, VR, mentioned that they are pursuing two additional cases against a different company owned by Ingólfur, which operates in the travel industry. He noted that VR has become increasingly aware of widespread rights violations in this sector.

Ingólfur Ragnar Axelsson declined to comment when approached for a response regarding these allegations.