VR chair calls Efling leader’s remarks absurd

VR chair Halla Gunnarsdóttir has called remarks by Efling chair Sólveig Anna Jónsdóttir “absurd” and disputed her claims about changes to the government’s anti-inflation package, mbl.is reports.

Sólveig Anna had accused Halla of orchestrating events after a press conference by the prime minister at Ráðherrabústaður, the government residence, on Thursday. She also said Halla had persuaded the government and SA to praise her role in resolving a deadlock in collective bargaining talks.

“I have previously criticised and raised objections to the Efling chair’s involvement in VR’s internal affairs. Our collective agreements are our business, and we negotiate them in the interests of our members,” Halla said.

She said VR had been addressing the risk of a breach of the agreements’ underlying assumptions since March. The union had used the time up to the last moment to seek protections, alongside professional associations, for groups of members who had faced wage cuts in recent years.

Sólveig Anna said the government’s anti-inflation measures had already been available on Tuesday evening, that Halla had seen them and that nothing had changed since. Halla said that was incorrect, citing changes to both the interest benefit supplement and the agreements’ assumptions clauses.

Halla said the supplement had been changed following pressure from VR and discussions with the prime minister. She said the inflation threshold had been lowered and that, in the final stages, “a little more” funding had been added after pressure from VR and professional associations. The union had also secured assumptions clauses with SA based on specified inflation thresholds.

Halla said the thresholds provided a goal for the parties to work towards and protections for members who had experienced wage cuts. Both provisions would take effect if inflation rose somewhat above general wage increases next year, she said.

Asked whether VR’s agreement included more than the one signed by the broad coalition of unions, Halla said the two groups had signed different agreements. She said changes to the interest benefit supplement were documented, and that other unions’ decisions about their agreements did not mean VR had to follow suit.