Negotiations between the Icelandic Seamen’s Union (SSI) and vessel operators’ federation SFS came to an end last night without agreement having been reached. The fleet collectively hauled its gear at 2300 last night and sailed for home. The strike does not extend to the inshore fleet.
Unions and employers had reached agreement on fish pricing and a number of other issues, and the engineers’ union and SFS reached an agreement last night.
But Seamens’ representatives left the negotiating table late last night as talks ran aground on manning levels for fresher trawlers and pelagic vessels.
‘We can’t stretch things any further,’ said SSI chairman Valmundur Valmundsson, commenting that the union’s view is that crews on these vessels are already too small and any further reduction becomes a safety issue.
The strike extends to 3500 crewmen and there is no indication of how long the strike could last. The last seamens’ strike, which was sixteen years ago, was ended with legislation rushed through, and the last agreements between unions and owners have been out of date for six years.
The state arbitrator has not yet invited seamens’ representatives back to the negotiating table and according to Valmundur Valmundsson, there is no indication of when this is likely to happen.
