The vast majority of restaurants and bakeries might close on midnight, Monday, as the members of six unions will go on strike, including those belonging to MATVÍS, the Union of Employees in the Food and Restaurant Industries.
Strike has already been postponed once
Negotiations between the unions and SA-Business Iceland, which handles collective bargaining for the vast majority of private employers, have been going on since May, but a final agreement has yet to be reached. The unions postponed a threatened strike earlier this month.
The six unions in question represent skilled workers, including MATVÍS, the Union of Employees in the Food and Restaurant Industries. Their core demand is that their members, who have at least two year formal training, receive comparable pay increases as unions of unskilled workers secured following intense labour disputes earlier this spring.
Significant disruptions threatened
Among the unions threatening to go on strike are the Union of Marine Engineers and Metal Technicians as well as the Icelandic Electrical Workers Union. If agreement is not reached before midnight the unions will begin a strike at midnight. The strike would lead to significant disruptions, according to the Public Broadcasting Service, RÚV. Many companies in manufacturing and telecommunications, including the Public Broadcasting Corporation will be severely affected. Mobile phone services could also be disrupted, as well as airline travel. However, travellers are probably most likely to experience the effects of the strike as restaurants close their doors.
Almost all restaurants and larger bakeries will be forced to close in the case of a strike. Some smaller restaurants might be able to stay open, and larger establishments might be able to remain open by cutting down the level of service. However, all meat processing plants will also close down, which could lead to a shortage of meats within a few days.
Strikes keep disrupting restaurant goers in Iceland
Many restaurant goers have already felt the effects of the ongoing labour unrest. Veterinarians were on strike from early April until mid-June, when legislation was passed to end the strike. The veterinarians strike led to a shortage of beef. The threatened strike by MATVÍS will cause even greater disruption.
The vast majority of restaurants and bakeries might close on midnight, Monday, as the members of six unions will go on strike, including those belonging to MATVÍS, the Union of Employees in the Food and Restaurant Industries.
Strike has already been postponed once
Negotiations between the unions and SA-Business Iceland, which handles collective bargaining for the vast majority of private employers, have been going on since May, but a final agreement has yet to be reached. The unions postponed a threatened strike earlier this month.
The six unions in question represent skilled workers, including MATVÍS, the Union of Employees in the Food and Restaurant Industries. Their core demand is that their members, who have at least two year formal training, receive comparable pay increases as unions of unskilled workers secured following intense labour disputes earlier this spring.
Significant disruptions threatened
Among the unions threatening to go on strike are the Union of Marine Engineers and Metal Technicians as well as the Icelandic Electrical Workers Union. If agreement is not reached before midnight the unions will begin a strike at midnight. The strike would lead to significant disruptions, according to the Public Broadcasting Service, RÚV. Many companies in manufacturing and telecommunications, including the Public Broadcasting Corporation will be severely affected. Mobile phone services could also be disrupted, as well as airline travel. However, travellers are probably most likely to experience the effects of the strike as restaurants close their doors.
Almost all restaurants and larger bakeries will be forced to close in the case of a strike. Some smaller restaurants might be able to stay open, and larger establishments might be able to remain open by cutting down the level of service. However, all meat processing plants will also close down, which could lead to a shortage of meats within a few days.
Strikes keep disrupting restaurant goers in Iceland
Many restaurant goers have already felt the effects of the ongoing labour unrest. Veterinarians were on strike from early April until mid-June, when legislation was passed to end the strike. The veterinarians strike led to a shortage of beef. The threatened strike by MATVÍS will cause even greater disruption.
