Iceland fishermen reject deals, go on strike

Members of several fishermen’s unions in Iceland have rejected a collective bargaining agreement negotiated between union leaders and Iceland’s fishing companies, choosing to go on strike beginning on the evening of Wednesday, 14 December.

The strike has no end date and is expected to last through Christmas, according to Visir, an Icelandic newspaper.

More than 75 percent of members of the Icelandic Fishermen’s Association voted against their contract, and more than 85 percent of members of the Seamen’s Union of Iceland rejected their agreement, both of which were negotiated in November as a result of a previous strike.

Points of contention include proposals to cut the number of crewmen on pelagic fishing vessels and a proposal by fishing companies to take money directly from catch values to pay higher government fees, resulting in lower total pay for fishermen.

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