Strikes in hotels, March 28-29
Update: Strike March 28-29 cancelled
There are strikes in hotels again on Thursday and Friday. The single-day strike on March 22 put pressure, but hasn’t resulted in a serious offer. Therefore, we are continuing with our strike plan in hotels and bus companies.
If you are in Efling or VR, and you work in a hotel listed below, you go on strike.
It does not matter whether you voted or which department you work in, or whether the hotel 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 hotels.
The only exceptions are top managers and owners.
If you are in another union, and are asked to do extra work during the strike, you are probably being asked to break the strike, which is illegal. Show solidarity — respect the strike!
Those who are on strike can come to the picket to apply for strike pay. There will be four pickets each of the two days, check this list to see which one your hotel should come to.
Picket gathering points and times
| 08:00 | 11:30 | |
| Meet at Austurvöllur: | Hótel Saga | Konsulat |
| City Center Hotel | Radison 1919 | |
| Reykjavík Centrum | Apotek | |
| Reykjavík Marina | Borg | |
| Óðinsvé | Exeter | |
| Leifur Eiríksson | Plaza | |
| 101 Hótel | Arnarhvoll | |
| Nordica | Þingholt | |
| Hótel Holt | ||
| Grand hótel | ||
| Rvk Lights | ||
| Meet at Hlemmur: | City Park | Hótel Natura |
| Capital Inn | Kex | |
| Fosshótel Reykjavík | Fosshótel Barón | |
| Storm | Fosshótel Lind | |
| Skuggi | Fosshótel Rauðará | |
| Sand Hótel | Klettur | |
| Frón Hótel | Canopy | |
| Klöpp | Hótel Örk | |
| Hótel Cabin | Hótel Viking | |
| Skaldbreið | Hótel Smári | |
| Miðgarður |
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.
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 | … |
Hotels on strike
| Fosshótel Reykjavík | Þórunnartún 1, 105 Rvk. |
| Grand Hótel Reykjavík | Sigtún 38, 105 Rvk. |
| Fosshótel Baron | Barónsstígur 2-4, 101 Rvk. |
| Hótel Reykjavík Centrum | Aðalstræti 16, 101 Rvk. |
| Fosshótel Rauðará | Rauðarárstígur 37, 105 Rvk. |
| Fosshótel Lind | Rauðarárstígur 18, 105 Rvk. |
| Hilton Reykjavík Nordica | Suðurlandsbraut 2, 108 Rvk. |
| Icelandair Hótel Reykjavík Natura | Nauthólsvegur 52, 101 Rvk. |
| Icelandair Hótel Reykjavík Marina | Mýrargata 2-8, 101 Rvk. |
| Canopy Reykjavík – City Centre | Smiðjustígur 4, 101 Rvk. |
| Reykjavík Konsúlat hótel | Hafnarstræti 17-19, 101 Rvk. |
| Hótel Plaza CenterHotel | Aðalstræti 4, 101 Rvk. |
| CenterHotel Miðgarður | Laugavegur 120, 101 Rvk. |
| Hótel Arnarhvoll CenterHotel | Ingólfsstræti 1, 101 Rvk. |
| Hótel Þingholt CenterHotel | Þingholtsstræti 3-5, 101 Rvk. |
| Hótel Klöpp CenterHotel | Klapparstígur 26, 101 Rvk. |
| Hótel Skjaldbreið CenterHotel | Laugavegur 16, 101 Rvk. |
| Exeter Hotel | Tryggvagata 12, 101 Rvk. |
| Reykjavík Lights Hotel | Suðurlandsbraut 12, 108 Rvk. |
| Skuggi Hótel | Hverfisgata 103, 101 Rvk. |
| Hótel Borg | Pósthússtræti 9-11, 101 Rvk. |
| Storm Hótel | Þórunnartún 4, 105 Rvk. |
| Sand Hótel | Laugavegur 34, 101 Rvk. |
| Apótek Hótel | Austurstræti 16, 101 Rvk. |
| Hótel Cabin | Borgartún 32, 105 Rvk. |
| Hótel Klettur | Mjölnisholt 12-14, 105 Rvk. |
| Hótel Örk | Breiðumörk 1c, 810 Hveragerði |
| Radisson BLU Hótel Saga | Hagatorg 1, 107 Rvk. |
| Radisson BLU 1919 Hótel | Pósthússtræti 2, 101 Rvk. |
| Hotel Víking | Víkingastræti 1-3, 220 Hfj. |
| Hótel Holt | Bergstaðastræti 37, 101 Rvk. |
| Hótel Frón | Laugavegur 22a, 101 Rvk. |
| Hótel Óðinsvé | Þórsgata 1, 202 Rvk. |
| The Capital Inn | Suðurhlíð 35d, 105 Rvk. |
| City Center Hotel | Austurstræti 6, 101 Rvk. |
| City Park Hotel | Ármúli 5j, 108 Rvk. |
| Kex Hostel | Skúlagata 28, 101 Rvk. |
| 101 Hótel | Hverfisgata 10, 101 Rvk. |
| Hótel Leifur Eiríksson | Skólavörðustígur 45, 101 Rvk. |
| Hótel Smári | Hlíðasmári 13, 201 Kópavogur |