An overwhelming 95.5% majority of those who took part in a strike vote among Efling workers at the city of Reykjavík has approved the action. The vote took place over five days and ended on noon today, Sunday, January 26th.The turnout was a record-breaking 59.2%. The voting registry comprised 1,894 members of Efling who work for the city of Reykjavík. Of 1,121 votes cast, an overwhelming majority, 95.5% of them, were cast in favour of its strike proposal. A total of 34 opposed the strike and 16 abstained from taking a stand.Sólveig Anna Jónsdóttir, chairman of Efling, was pleased that union members had accepted the negotiation committee’s proposal for a strike. “In my numerous visits to the city’s workplaces since the autumn, I have sensed among the staff a great willingness to fight. People are sick and tired of working for starvation wages with increasing stress and in difficult conditions. A record-breaking turnout, not to mention an overwhelming willingness to act, demonstrates beyond all doubt that we’re on the right track and that the masses are with us. With this wind in our sails, we are well equipped for the struggle ahead with the city.”With the vote, the members of Efling have agreed to call a strike within the city of Reykjavík. A formal notification of the strike will be handed to the municipal authorities and the state mediator before noon tomorrow, Monday, January 27th.The strikes are planned on the following dates:
- Tuesday, February 4th of 2020: Work stops from 12:30 noon until 11:59pm.
- Thursday, February 6th of 2020: Work stops from 12:01 midnight until 11:59pm.
- Tuesday, February 11th: Work stops from 12:30 noon until 11:59pm.
- Wednesday, February 12th: Work stops from 12:01 midnight until 11:59pm.
- Thursday, February 13th: Work stops from 12:01 midnight until 11:59pm.
- Monday, February 17th: Work stops from 12:01 midnight and the strike lasts for an indefinite period of time.
Efling thanks all of its members who cast their votes, as well as the election committee of Efling and the staff which worked hard on making the vote possible.