Reykjavík City's collective bargaining mandate to the Icelandic Association of Local Authorities 

Ritstjórn
Reykjavík in fall colors Ragnar Th. Sigurðsson
Reykjavík in fall colors seen from the air over Elliðaárdalur

The City Executive Council has approved granting the Icelandic Association of Local Authorities a collective bargaining mandate to negotiate with the relevant unions on behalf of Reykjavík City. Reykjavík City's negotiation committee will also be relieved of its collective bargaining duties.

The Icelandic Association of Local Authorities has held the collective bargaining mandate on behalf of Reykjavík City for unions within the Icelandic Teachers Union and the Icelandic Musicians Union, as well as the bargaining mandate for the Capital Region Fire Service regarding the National Association of Firefighters and Paramedics, and for Strætó Public Transport regarding Sameyki, the union for public service workers. Until now, Reykjavík City has acted as an independent contracting party in negotiations with other unions. 

Hildur Björnsdóttir, mayor of Reykjavík, and Almar Guðmundsson, chair of the Association.
Hildur Björnsdóttir, borgarstjóri Reykjavíkur og Almar Guðmundsson, formaður Sambandsins.

Cooperation among public employers, including the state and municipalities, on labor issues has grown considerably in recent years. This includes the creation of a labor affairs council and a joint wage policy among the parties since 2019. Close and effective cooperation in public sector collective bargaining best serves Reykjavík City's interests, and public employers have long worked to strengthen this collaboration. 

Alongside transferring the collective bargaining mandate, the parties will review their shared ownership and responsibility for the jointly owned company Jafnlaunastofa sf., and the department director of the Department of Human Resources and Work Environments will implement the necessary departmental changes.