If you are in Efling or VR, and you work in a bus company (except Strætó buses), you go on strike.

It does not matter whether you voted or which department you work in, or whether the company pays you as a contractor. It doesn’t even matter if you are registered in the wrong union – the strike applies to everyone working Efling or VR jobs in bus companies.

The only exceptions are top managers and owners.

To apply for strike pay, come to Vinabær, Skipholt 33, 105 Reykjavík, between 12:00 and 17:00 on March 22.

Those who would have been at work during the strike can apply for support from the strike fund. To receive payment you punch in for the programme in Vinabær at 13:00 and punch out at the end of it, and fill in an application form which the staff of Efling will have at hand there.

Maxim Baru, head of the organizing division of Efling, will talk about the organization of the bus sector and conduct a discussion among union members about the continuing strike actions and the next steps in the struggle.

A preparation meeting for strike patrol on the day of the strike will take place at the Efling offices on the 4th floor, Guðrúnartún 1, on Thursday, March 21, at 18:00.

Frequently asked questions

Why are we going on strike?

Efling is demanding a higher minimum wage, enough for the cost of living and rent in Reykjavík. This means 425,000 ISK/month. We are also demanding better protection of rights, and we want dignity for low wage workers in Iceland. The bosses have not agreed to our demands, and have made insultingly low offers. To show what our work means to the tourist economy, we are going on strike.

How will I know if I am going on strike or not?

Before a strike can happen, it needs to be approved by a member vote. Before that, it is normally discussed and pre-approved by Efling’s negotiations committee. When a strike vote happens, Efling will publicize it widely.

Who is allowed to do my job when I am on strike?

In Iceland, when a strike is called on a job, other workers are not allowed to do the job and replace them. For example, if maids in hotels go on strike, the people from reception cannot be asked to do their work in the meantime. A contractor can not be brought in to do your job if you are on strike. Similarly, your employer cannot ask you to step into the job of another worker who is on strike.

Doing another person’s job while they are on strike is called strike-breaking and is both shameful and illegal. Only owners and top managers are allowed to step in and do the job of a worker on strike.

What happens if I’m fired for striking?

Firing people for striking is illegal and punishable by law. The union has a legal team that will respond if employers try to threaten or discipline workers because of a strike.

Will I get paid during the strike?

Those who are going on strike and have work or a shift when the strike takes place can get support from the strike fund. Wage loss will be fully compensated, based on an average of the total wages from the last six months — up to 550.000/month. A modest demand will be made for participation in strike patrolling or similar events. Those who can’t make it can be in touch with the union on April 1 and 2 for the March strike days.

To apply for strike pay, come to Vinabær, Skipholt 33, 105 Reykjavík, between 12:00 and 17:00 on March 22.

Those who would have been at work during the strike can apply for support from the strike fund. To receive payment from the grant one must punch in for the programme in Vinabær at 1 pm and punch out at the end of it, and fill in an application form which the staff of Efling will have at hand there.

What if my boss asks me to come to work during the strike?

Any pressure or request to work during the strike is illegal. The union can sue the company for damages in such cases. If you are asked to do this, you can send us a message to efling@efling.is

What is this I hear about the strike being illegal?

A portion of the strike proposals of Efling, which were about restrictions of duties at work, have been deemed illegal by the Labour Court. The remaining strike proposals were about regular strikes, and they will take place on the following days:

	MON	TUE	WED	THU	FRI	SAT	SUN
MARCH	18	19	20	21	22	23	24
	25	26	27	28	29	30	31
APRIL	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
	8	9	10	11	12	13	14
	15	16	17	18	19	20	21
	22	23	24	25	26	27	28
MAY	29	30	1	2	3	4	…