Statement of support from socialist feminists for Efling's strike announcement

Iceland May 1, 2020The contempt that the ruling class has shown towards women's jobs in the labor market has become clearly evident during this virus epidemic that has raged in Iceland for two months now. Nurses have been without collective agreements for a long time, and there seems to be no will to negotiate properly with them. Nurses are spoken of as heroes and absolutely indispensable. But are these heroes not worth more than to not deserve decent wages?

Efling members have also been in collective bargaining negotiations. The negotiations had not yielded results for their efforts, and a strike had begun. When it became clear what was happening with Covid-19, Efling members nevertheless decided to take circumstances into account and paused strikes until the situation improved and there was more safety in society. There are many who have an opinion on Efling members planning to resume their strike on May 5th. Opinions vary, but there are quite a few who scoff and complain that Efling members are not showing consideration given the current situation.

It was clear from the outset, when Efling decided to pause strike actions, that the strike would resume when the gathering ban eased. Prior to that, ample exemptions had been granted to allow for the care of the elderly and those who need care and assistance in their daily lives. When the strike was paused, no one tried to approach Efling and prevent the announced actions after the situation concluded.

Efling members are mostly women, or 80%. Women who perform care work and cleaning, among other things. Women who have been indispensable staff during this pandemic that we are going through. These women showed up for work every day and put their lives and their families' lives at risk for wages that are not enough to make ends meet.

We, the undersigned, are members of the Socialist Party and define ourselves as socialist feminists. We hereby declare our full support for Efling's actions and hope that the municipalities involved in the negotiating table will see fit to approach it with an open mind and a fair attitude. It is time for those who are indispensable in our system to receive wages commensurate with that.

Today is May 1st, the international day of struggle for the working class, and a fitting occasion to stand up for the working class and say: Forward Efling!

Arna Þórdís Árnadóttir Margrét Pétursdóttir Elísabet Ýr Atladóttir Candice Michelle Goddard Ynda Eldborg María Pétursdóttir Elsa Björk Harðardóttir Birna Eik Benediktsdóttir Sigrún Jónsdóttir Pála Sjöfn Þórarinsdóttir Laufey Líndal Ólafsdóttir Elísabet Einarsdóttir Sanna Magdalena Mörtudóttir Agnes Erna Estherardóttir Ester Bíbí Ásgeirsdóttir Jóna Guðbjörg Torfadóttir Óskar Steinn Gestsson Margrét Rósa Sigurðardóttir Elín Vigdís Ólafsdóttir Bára Jóhannesdóttir Guðrúnardóttir Sonja B. Jónsdóttir Hlynur Már Vilhjálmsson Birna Gunnarsdóttir Kristín Bjarnadóttir Rán Reynisdóttir Erna Hlín Jóhann S. Vilhjálmsson Auður Sighvatsdóttir