Reykjavík Grapevine - 24.06.2005, Side 10

10
Earthquake in Kleifarvatn
A number of tremors were recorded in and around the lake Kleifarvatn in
Reykjanes at 8:15 last Wednesday. According to RÚV, the largest tremor
measured 3.3 to 3.4 on the Richter scale and was felt as far away as Reykjavík.
Kleifarvatn is located near Krísuvík, which is one of the most actively volcanic
regions in the country.
Conservative Women
Pressure for Gender Equality
The National Association of Women of the Independence Party have
encouraged the party to focus on equalizing the number of men and women
running for office in the upcoming municipal elections. According to
Morgunblaðið, this measure was put forth at a national convention of the
group last month.
Whaling Ban Still in Effect
Supporters of lifting the international ban on commercial whaling received
a crushing blow this week. According to Morgunblaðið, pro-whalers
were unable to get a majority vote on lifting the ban at a meeting of the
International Whaling Committee in Seoul, South Korea. A ban on
commercial whaling has been in effect since 1986. Only Norway, Japan and
Iceland still engage in whaling for scientific purposes.
British Protestor Released
British activist Paul Gill was released from police custody last weekend.
According to RÚV, he was ordered not to leave the country before 1 July.
Police said they hope to complete their investigation within the next few days
and take Mr. Gill before court before the travel ban expires. He is charged
with destruction of property for splashing people with green skyr at a meeting
at Hotel Nordica last week, along with two Icelandic activists who were also
arrested but immediately released. Gill’s custody sparked further protest as
being inconsistent with the way the Icelandic protestors were treated.
Justice Minister and Police Make Deal
Minister of Justice Björn Bjarnason and chief of police Böðvar Bragason
signed an agreement outlining the goals for the Reykjavík police for this year.
According to Vísir, Minister Bjarnason welcomed the agreement, calling it
the first of its kind in Iceland, wherein the ministry and the police would
focus on the same goals. Among these are increasing the size of the police
force.
Fight for Gender Equality Continues
19 June was the 90th anniversary of Icelandic women over 40 receiving the
right to vote. While many advances have been made in the fight for gender
equality, Katrín Anna Guðmundsdóttir told Vísir, there is still an obvious
wage gap and the closing of it needs to be of top importance, saying in part,
“We need to work on it and this is why this matter needs to be given priority
in order to make anything happen.” In other news, Minister of Social Affairs
Árni Magnússon sent a letter to every company in Iceland with more than
25 employees to review their wages and be aware of any difference in pay
between men and women performing the same job.
PM Proud of Icelanders
Prime Minister Halldór Ásgrímsson sounded off the positive at yesterday’s
Independence Day celebrations. In a speech made at the opening ceremonies,
Ásgrímsson said the Icelandic people “should hold their heads high without
arrogance . . . I am proud of the Icelandic people.” Among the many
accomplishments he listed, he put special emphasis on the market, saying that
the liberalization of the economy has changed Icelandic society from one of
inflation and unemployment to the sound and healthy economy it is today.
He also said that the recent review of the constitution is necessary, in order to
keep it up to date, and hopes for the review to begin this fall.
Minister Congratulates East Húnavatn
Minister of Industry Valgerður Sverrisdóttir welcomed the decision made
by the people of East Húnavatn to request an aluminium smelter be built
in their area, but said it wouldn’t be possible to build a smelter in every bay.
The minister told RÚV as well that she doesn’t rule out East Húnavatn’s
participation in negotiations with Alcoa, the Ministry of Industry, and the
municipalities of the north.
Swedes Look Into Copying Icelandic
Maternity Leave
Swedish government researcher Karl-Petter Thorwaldsson wrote a report
recently suggesting that maternity leave be increased by twelve months to a
total of fifteen months. According to Morgunblaðið, Thorwaldsson suggested
an Icelandic model for dividing up the maternity leave between both parents:
five months for the mother, five for the father, and the remaining five divided
between the two however they see fit. The Icelandic law is actually for
eighteen months, divided into six-month shares between the parents.
News in brief
Twelve workers from Poland have gone to the Icelandic
Confederation of Labour Unions (ASÍ) because they
feel that their work and living conditions are intolerable.
According to Vísir, the workers signed an agreement
with the company Geymi ehf which entitled them to
work 250 hours per month for 120,000 ISK - the salary
one would get for working 160 hours in a month. ASÍ
director Halldór Grönvöld said that the workers went
to him for help and he agreed that the accommodations
provided to the workers by the company were unfit,
adding, “We saw right away that their conditions were
intolerable and now we will be handling their complaint.”
The workers were also not receiving vacation pay, sick
leave, overtime, and other stipulations that employers
in Iceland are legally bound to follow. Eiríkur Elís
Þorláksson, a lawyer for Geymi ehf, said that the charges
come as a surprise to him, adding that he felt the unions
were making a big deal about very little and that Geymi
ehf was acting in full compliance with the law. ASÍ is
expected to launch a case against Geymi ehf soon.
In related news, the union Efling told RÚV that
they’ve been looking into violations of the rights of
foreign workers. Carlos Manuel da Cunha, a plumber
from Portugal, said that he had been swindled by the
Icelandic employment agency Intjob. The agency
advertised in a newspaper in Portugal, where da Cunha
responded to the ad and came to Iceland. Upon his
arrival, he was lodged in a room with several others
and made to work 50 to 62 hours a week for 960 ISK
an hour, whether day or evening, workday or weekend,
without overtime. Da Cunha says he is now on his way
back to Portugal.
Union Helps
Foreign Workers
By Paul F Nikolov