Faroese mediation service calls health workers’ union and municipal employers to new talks

The Faroese mediation service has summoned representatives from the health workers’ union and the municipal employers’ association to a meeting today at 13:00, according to a report by Faroese public broadcaster KVF.

Two delegates from each party will attend to discuss unresolved disputes and potential new mediation proposals, said Mary Antonsdóttir, chair of the health workers’ union, in a brief statement.

Last week, both the union and the municipal employers rejected a one-year mediation proposal, with health workers citing insufficient terms and employers deeming it too costly. No substantive negotiations have taken place since, but the mediator has now called for a new meeting.

Antonsdóttir told KVF radio on Monday that while she was open to dialogue, revisiting the rejected proposal would be unproductive. She noted that the terms fell short of the 3.87% wage increase agreed upon by the finance ministry for 12 public-sector unions.

Per Martin Gregersen, chair of the municipal employers’ association, stated that positions had remained unchanged since negotiations began. He suggested the mediator may have received new input from both sides, prompting the renewed effort.