The Hunger March I: February 23

People on the lowest wages, disability pensions and retirement pensions do not have enough income to live through the month. This applies to tens of thousands of individuals and families. It is a national shame.

We protest that people do not receive wages and pensions sufficient for them to support themselves. We protest that in one of the richest societies in the world, people are condemned to poverty, helplessness, fear and despair.

We all protest. At Austurvöllur on Saturday, February 23. On that day, thousands of citizens have crossed the hunger line, have run out of their wages and pensions for February, and have nothing left to support themselves through the month.

Among those addressing the group are Þuríður Harpa Sigurðardóttir, chairman of Öryrkjabandalagið, and Sólveig Anna Jónsdóttir, chairman of Efling.

Low-wage earners in the rental market, after taxes, fees and housing costs, can only afford to support themselves until the afternoon of February 22, based on market rental prices and the living cost standard of the Debt Ombudsman. For full-time work, they do not receive wages sufficient to keep themselves alive through the month.

A single mother with two children receives higher housing benefits than an individual, and the children receive child benefits. However, this is not enough for the family to last beyond midnight on Friday, February 22, based on market rental prices and the living cost standard of the Debt Ombudsman. From Saturday onwards, the hunger march takes over for the rest of the month, for the mother and her children.

Those on the lowest disability pensions or retirement pensions just make it to Sunday, February 24, based on the living cost standards and rental prices in the rental market. After that, the hunger march takes over.

People living in these miserable conditions are encouraged to come to Austurvöllur and return the shame. They are not responsible for the poverty they have experienced. It is society that bears the responsibility. And there is a solution; to raise the lowest wages and minimum pensions and retirement pensions.

People who are outraged by the conditions that people on the lowest wages face are encouraged to come to Austurvöllur and show solidarity with low-wage earners, disabled people and retirees.

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People that receive the lowest salaries, disability insurance, and pensions do not have enough income to live through the month. Tens of thousands of individuals and their families are in this same situation, which is a large part of this small population. Many foreigners living here are among them. This is a national shame. We protest that people receive insufficient pay or pension to survive. We protest that in one of the richest societies in the world, people are forced to live in poverty, helplessness, fear, and desperation.

We will all protest this situation at Austurvöllur on Saturday the 23rd of February. On that day, many of us have gone over the hunger line – salaries and pensions from February are done and there is nothing left to get us through the month.

After rent, taxes, and fees, low-income renters can only afford to support themselves until the afternoon of the 22nd of February, based on current rental market rates and living costs as defined by the Debt Agency. For full-time work, people are not being paid enough to live out each month.

A single mother with two children receives higher housing compensation, in addition to a childhood allowance for each child, than an individual. This is still not enough for the family to live on past midnight on the 22nd of February, based on the same standards. From Saturday on through the rest of the month, the hunger march takes over for the rest of the month for the mother and her children.

Those on the lowest disability or retirement pensions just make it to Sunday, February 24th based on current market rates. After that, the hunger march begins.

People that live in these horrible situations, are encouraged to come to Austurvöllur and deliver this shame where it belongs. These people are not responsible for the poverty that they are forced to endure. It is our society that is to blame. And there is a solution: Raise the lowest wages and the minimum disability and disability pensions.

Those that resent the conditions that those with the lowest incomes must deal with are implored to meet at Austurvöllur and show your support for low wage earners, those with disabilities, and the retired.