News - 14.03.2024
VR signs a collective agreement with SA
VR and the Icelandic Confederation of Business (SA) have signed a collective agreement valid until the end of January 2028. The agreement will be presented at a membership meeting next Monday and voted on by members, scheduled to end on 21 March 2024.
The main goals of the agreement are to contribute to the reduction of inflation and the reduction of interest rates. The goal is also to increase the purchasing power of workers, create predictability in the economy, reduce inflation expectations and strengthen the competitiveness of the Icelandic economy.
Wages increase proportionally but a minimum of ISK 23,750. The salary increase is retroactive, salaries will increase from 1 February 2024 by 3.25% and by 3.5% on 1 January 2025, 2026 and 2027. Salary-related items will increase correspondingly. December and holiday bonuses will also increase during the agreement period.
Increased vacation rights were negotiated. For exmple, employees who have worked for 6 months in the same company and have reached the age of 22 or for 6 months in the same company after a high school diploma shall be entitled to a vacation of 25 days, as of the vacation year beginning on 1 May 2025 . Vacation rights will be further increased in the vacation year that begins on 1 May 2026, among other things, it is stipulated that after 6 years in the same company, employees will have 30 days of vacation.
A special chapter on remote work is now part of the collective agreement with the aim of guaranteeing the rights of employees in remote work. There is also a change in the right of staff to attend professional courses without a reduction in daily wages, staff can now spend up to 16 daily working hours per year on such courses.
With regard to VR's members in Icelandair's passenger and baggage services at Keflavík Airport, efforts will be made to change the shift arrangements in cooperation with the State Conciliation and Meditation Officer. This is to be completed by 20 December. It was also agreed that higher waiting payments will be established for those who do not have continuous working hours.
A more detailed presentation of the collective agreement will be published on the website in the coming days, and it will also be presented at the union meeting on Monday, 18 March 2024. The meeting will be advertised separately.
