Negotiations intensify as teachers and doctors seek wage agreements in Iceland

A total of 23 wage negotiations are currently being addressed by the National Mediator’s office, covering a broad spectrum of industries. Today, discussions are taking place between teachers and representatives of the state and municipalities, as well as between doctors and the government.

The chair of the Icelandic Medical Association, Steinunn Þórðardóttir, anticipates a lengthy meeting and suggests that significant outcomes might arise. Mikael Smári Mikaelsson, head of the negotiating committee for the Medical Association, stated in an interview that the focus of the negotiations is primarily on reducing the workweek, amending the on-call compensation system for doctors, and increasing base salaries, which he claims have not kept pace with those in other professions. There are significant concerns regarding physician workloads, burnout, and workforce shortages, with the majority of time spent discussing the reduction of the workweek. It is vital, Mikael emphasized, that any new agreement does not result in a decrease in salaries.

Meanwhile, a meeting is scheduled at the National Mediator’s office to address ongoing disputes between teacher unions and the government and municipalities at 3:30 PM today. A vote initiated yesterday at noon will determine whether to call for a strike at eight schools, including four preschools, three primary schools, and one secondary school. The specific schools involved will not be disclosed unless they approve the strike authorization.

Voting on the strikes will continue until noon tomorrow, and if approved, the strikes will commence at midnight on October 29th. The chair of the Icelandic Teachers’ Association, Magnús Þór Jónsson, believes it is likely that the strikes will be sanctioned.