Following the lead of Iceland's president, the Reykjavík city council has unanimously voted to reject a 35% salary increase worth an extra monthly payment of around 340,000 Icelandic króna (3,000 USD/2,800 EUR).
City council members have until now enjoyed the same salary as Iceland’s parliament members, which is 13.2 million ISK (117,000 USD/106.500 EUR) following a very controversial raise awarded 29 October by the official Salaries Tribunal (link in Icelandic).
Iceland’s president, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, has already said that he is not accepting a 600,000 ISK (5,300 USD/4,800 EUR) monthly increase of his salary. He is donating the raise to a good cause as the president’s salary can’t be lowered, according to Iceland’s constitution.
Read more: Iceland’s president turns down a monthly pay increase of 5,300 USD
The Salaries Tribunal has the responsibility for determining the rates of remuneration for the president, members of parliament, government ministers, judges and more state employees.
Its decision to raise the salary of the president, members of parliament and government ministers has caused a huge outcry in Iceland, as the raise is much higher than has been handed to the general workforce. After the raise the pay of the elected representatives has been raised by 75% in the last three years, at the same time as salaries have risen on average by 29% in the country.
By rejecting the raise the president and the city council are showing solidarity with the general workforce.
A large part of the Icelandic labour market is gearing up for action, including strikes early in the new year.
Following the lead of Iceland's president, the Reykjavík city council has unanimously voted to reject a 35% salary increase worth an extra monthly payment of around 340,000 Icelandic króna (3,000 USD/2,800 EUR).
City council members have until now enjoyed the same salary as Iceland’s parliament members, which is 13.2 million ISK (117,000 USD/106.500 EUR) following a very controversial raise awarded 29 October by the official Salaries Tribunal (link in Icelandic).
Iceland’s president, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, has already said that he is not accepting a 600,000 ISK (5,300 USD/4,800 EUR) monthly increase of his salary. He is donating the raise to a good cause as the president’s salary can’t be lowered, according to Iceland’s constitution.
Read more: Iceland’s president turns down a monthly pay increase of 5,300 USD
The Salaries Tribunal has the responsibility for determining the rates of remuneration for the president, members of parliament, government ministers, judges and more state employees.
Its decision to raise the salary of the president, members of parliament and government ministers has caused a huge outcry in Iceland, as the raise is much higher than has been handed to the general workforce. After the raise the pay of the elected representatives has been raised by 75% in the last three years, at the same time as salaries have risen on average by 29% in the country.
By rejecting the raise the president and the city council are showing solidarity with the general workforce.
A large part of the Icelandic labour market is gearing up for action, including strikes early in the new year.
