That's why we need trade unions
VR Union is open to all office, service and commercial workers in the operating units of the company throughout the country. All workers in these operating divisions can thus become VR members.
Members can seek the company’s assistance with matters including interpretation of its collective wage agreement, calculation of wages and collection, legal assistance with regard to wage terms, education subsidy, as well as enjoying a variety of other services. The company also operates dynamic funds, such as the VR Sick Pay Fund, Trade and Office Employees’ Vocational Training Fund and the VR Contingency Fund.
Sick Pay Fund
The VR Sick Pay Fund pays sickness per diem payments when wage income of VR members lapses due to illness. In the event that a VR member becomes incapable to work due to illness or accident and has fully utilised their rights from their employer, they are entitled to sickness per diem payments amounting to 80% of their wages for up to 7 months from the VR Sick Pay Fund.
VR Sick Pay Fund assists members
- Sickness cash-benefits after sick-pay rights expire – 80% of wages for up to 210 days.
- Sickness cash-benefits for accidents suffered during leisure time – 80% of wages. As of 1. April 2022 the VR Sick Pay fund will no longer pay accident benefits for accidents that occur after that date.
- Sickness cash-benefits for treatment for alcohol abuse – 80% of wages. Paid for up to 120 days (4 months).
- Daily payments for serious illness of a spouse – 80% of wages for up to 90 days.
- Grants, e.g. for artificial insemination, medical tattoos and travel expenses due to doctor and dentist visits.
- Disability benefits due to accident occurring during leisure time if compensation comes from elsewhere due to statutory liability insurance (due to accidents attributable to motorised vehicles).
- Death benefits.
Contingency Fund
The VR Contingency Fund – your property
All VR members who pay a membership fee to VR accumulate entitlements in the so-called VR Contingency Fund. Deposits to the Fund are made on an annual basis, after the Annual General Meeting, when the credit amount is updated. If a VR member leaves the union, they can continue to use their entitlement credit in the Fund for a specific length of time.
Payments
Reimbursement from the VR Contingency Fund depends on the credit of each VR member. Payments from the Fund are generally subject to withholding tax, and withholding tax is deducted from the amount before disbursement. Withholding taxes are deducted from grant amounts from the VR Contingency Fund in accordance with Tax Bracket 1.
Three exceptions to this are specified below:
- Exercise and rehabilitation (physiotherapy, massage, acupuncture and chiropractor) up to a maximum amount of ISK 65,000 per year (in 2022).
- Payment of accommodation costs during leave up to a maximum amount of ISK 61,000 per year. This only applies to payment for accommodation, such as holiday cottages, hotels or guesthouses.
- Job-related studies, grants from the Fund for vocational training.
VR Contingency Fund can be used:
- To purchase gym membership.
- To purchase aid equipment, e.g. glasses, hearing aids and more.
- For rehabilitation, e.g. physiotherapy.
- For medical costs and medication costs.
- To purchase education services.
- To purchase vacation-related services of VR and more.
View your credit in the Fund on My Pages on vr.is.
Vocational Training Funds
VR members can apply for scholarships for job-related learning, leisure studies and travel expenses for job-related training/courses and conferences.
On My pages on vr.is, VR members can view their rights and submit an electronic application.
- Members can apply for job-related grants; these include e.g. job-related courses, general studies for credits, increased rights, conferences related to the applicant’s work and more.
- Members can also apply for leisure grants; these include general courses that have a defined beginning, end and an instructor. Grants can only be applied for courses held domestically.
- Members can also apply for a travel grant if they need to travel more than 50 km in order to get from home to an educational institution.
- Members and companies can apply for a joint grant to the Fund if job-related studies of a member cost ISK 200,000 or more. In these cases, entitlements of the individual and entitlements of the company are shared. Applications are processed in accordance with the Fund’s rules on job-related grants.