Employees found real unions without the intervention of employers. “Virðing” is a fake union, as its relationship with the employers’ association SVEIT clearly shows. SVEIT and Virðing have signed a fake collective agreement in which the wages and rights of employees are significantly reduced.
In recent weeks, Efling has reviewed the connections of the SVEIT directors and the fake union Virðing directors with certain companies in the catering industry. In that work, Efling has studied membership figures from SVEIT, public registrations that can be found at the Tax Office, and information from the websites of these parties.
Furthermore, Efling has had contact with representatives of individual SVEIT member companies and with members who work for them. Based on these communications, Efling believes it has a fairly clear picture of which companies intend to exploit the fake collective agreement between SVEIT and Virðing to benefit their employees.
Several companies have informed Efling of their withdrawal from SVEIT or have confirmed that their employees are not working under the fake collective agreement between SVEIT and Virðing. This is the vast majority of the companies that have been on SVEIT’s list of members.
Efling believes it is right to inform consumers, visiting tourists, union members, and the general public about the names of the companies that appear to be behind the fake collective agreement between SVEIT and Virðing, despite Efling’s submissions and the public debate in recent weeks.
These companies have not responded to Efling’s submissions and in some cases, there are closer connections to SVEIT and/or Virðing. In other cases, Efling has received information that the companies have in fact gone so far as to register employees with Virðing.
ROK (Taste ehf.)
ROK is a member company of SVEIT and has not responded to Efling regarding the company’s position on the fake collective agreement with Virðing, despite repeated requests. Hrefna Björk Sverrisdóttir, the owner and CEO of ROK, is a founder, board member, and former chairman of SVEIT. Ronja Björk Bjarnadóttir, Hrefna’s daughter, is one of the founders of Virðing and sits on its alternate board.
Subway (Stjarnan ehf.)
Subway is a member company of SVEIT and has not responded to Efling regarding the company’s position on the fake collective agreement with Virðing, despite repeated requests. Skúli Gunnar Sigfússon, the owner and CEO of Stjarnan hf., sits on the board of SVEIT. Efling has documents showing that Subway employees have been made to pay membership fees to Virðing.
Public House Gastropub (Gastropub ehf.)
Public House Gastropub is a member company of SVEIT and has not responded to messages from Efling regarding the company’s position on the fake collective agreement with Virðing, despite repeated requests. Eyþór Mar Halldórsson, owner of Public House Gastropub, is a board member of SVEIT.
Hard Rock Cafe is a member company of SVEIT and has not responded to messages from Efling regarding the company’s position on the fake collective agreement with Virðing, despite repeated requests.
Finnsson Bistro (K3 ehf.)
Finnsson Bistro is a member company of SVEIT and has not responded to messages from Efling regarding the company’s position on the fake collective agreement with Virðing, despite repeated requests. Efling has confirmed sources that Óskar Finnsson, chef at Finnsson and chairman of the board of K3 ehf., has stated that he will register his employees with Virðing and give them no other option.