Further strike action by the Union of Public Servants SFR, paramedics and Police officers has been called off as the unions reached an agreement with the government early this morning. Representatives of the unions and the government signed the agreement, which calls for as much as a 30% increase in wages, at five in the morning, the local news site visir.is reports. Strikes, which were to resume tomorrow have been called off.
Significant disruption averted
The Union of Public Servants and paramedics began their strikes on October 15. The strike affected 158 different government offices and agencies, as well as closing down the state liquor stores and University classrooms. The strike of the SFR and paramedics meant a third of all employees of the National University Hospital were on strike, causing considerable disruption to the operations of the hospital.
Read more: Public Servants return to work after four day strike. Strikes to resume 29 October
Travellers to or from the US, UK or Canada also felt the strike, as border guards at Keflavík airport are members of the union. With border guards on strike long lines formed at border checkpoints. In the past weeks Police officers, who by law do not have the right to strike, have been staging wildcat strikes, calling in sick in large numbers on Fridays.
29-30% wage increases over four years
According to the agreement reached this morning the unions will receive a wage increase comparable to that of other groups who have negotiated new agreements in the past months. The increases are to be between 29% and 30%, spread over the next four years. Árni Stefán Jónsson, the chairman of SFR told visir.is that he expects the agreement will be approve by members of the union who will now vote on the new contract.
Further strike action by the Union of Public Servants SFR, paramedics and Police officers has been called off as the unions reached an agreement with the government early this morning. Representatives of the unions and the government signed the agreement, which calls for as much as a 30% increase in wages, at five in the morning, the local news site visir.is reports. Strikes, which were to resume tomorrow have been called off.
Significant disruption averted
The Union of Public Servants and paramedics began their strikes on October 15. The strike affected 158 different government offices and agencies, as well as closing down the state liquor stores and University classrooms. The strike of the SFR and paramedics meant a third of all employees of the National University Hospital were on strike, causing considerable disruption to the operations of the hospital.
Read more: Public Servants return to work after four day strike. Strikes to resume 29 October
Travellers to or from the US, UK or Canada also felt the strike, as border guards at Keflavík airport are members of the union. With border guards on strike long lines formed at border checkpoints. In the past weeks Police officers, who by law do not have the right to strike, have been staging wildcat strikes, calling in sick in large numbers on Fridays.
29-30% wage increases over four years
According to the agreement reached this morning the unions will receive a wage increase comparable to that of other groups who have negotiated new agreements in the past months. The increases are to be between 29% and 30%, spread over the next four years. Árni Stefán Jónsson, the chairman of SFR told visir.is that he expects the agreement will be approve by members of the union who will now vote on the new contract.
