Efling union threatens strike over wage negotiations in Iceland

Negotiations are underway concerning wage agreements for nursing home staff in Iceland, but if a meeting scheduled for Monday fails to yield results, the Efling union plans to terminate discussions and prepare for a strike. Efling’s leader, Sólveig Anna Jónsdóttir, emphasizes the need to improve staffing levels in nursing homes to alleviate pressure on employees.

Approximately 2,300 Efling members work in care roles at these facilities, where wage contracts have been expired since last spring. Efling’s primary demand is for enhanced staffing, which Sólveig Anna identifies as a persistent issue that severely impacts working conditions for union members.

The union also seeks wage increases comparable to those negotiated by other groups in their most recent agreements. Several meetings in the ongoing dispute have taken place, with the next session set for the upcoming Monday. According to Sólveig Anna, this meeting will clarify whether a resolution is in sight or whether Efling will proceed with ending negotiations.

“We naturally want to reach an agreement,” she stated. “We have been quite ambitious in these negotiations; we were ready before the summer break and had already begun discussions. However, it is no longer sustainable for matters to continue in this manner.”