« Hard to explain it to a psychologist »

Representatives of the Psychology Association of Iceland intend to meet the State Negotiating Committee next week to review the state of affairs after psychologists working for the state rejected a vote yesterday with a collective bargaining agreement with the state.

It was stated in a statement yesterday that the agreement that was voted on the members had been substantively the same and psychologists rejected the vote at the beginning of the year, with the exception that representatives of the State Negotiations Committee had taken the proposed increases in the salary tables in September (payroll).

Contractless for a long time

« Both and, » says Pétur Maack Thorsteinsson, chairman of the Psychology Association of Iceland, asked if yesterday’s vote had come as a surprise. 44.4% said yes but 55.6% of those who voted said no. The turnout was 71.2%, while 326 were on the electoral roll.

In the last vote at the beginning of the year there were 296 psychologists with voting rights and then there was a contract that had been signed in December rejected by nearly 77% of members.

Peter says psychologists at the state have been out of contract for a very long time, or since March 31 last year, and it is difficult to be on wage tables since then, while most other BHM companies have signed new agreements in December last year.

Disappointment with the contract

« It is safe to say that people have been disappointed with this agreement we voted now. This year, ”Peter reports. It should not come in until September next year.

Justice and fairness

«  » I think this has been decided that the agreement was canceled again. on the paycheck, but the psychologist did not because a psychologist had stood with himself and first canceled a collective bargaining agreement in January and then in May, ”the chairman continues.

The dumb effect of strikes

If the conversation in the near future with the State Negotiating Committee is going badly, Pétur says the next step is to hold a general social meeting, which will vote on whether members want strike rights to be exercised.

Asked, Peter says very long since psychologists last went on strike and they have not done so after they became many in public service.

« I do not want to think about the effects of such a strike. We have people in front lines at the Landspitali Children’s and Adolescent Department, in mental health teams, we have experts who handle complex neurological psychological matches that no one else can do and there are long waiting lists.

« It has become very urgent to negotiate. It is devastating for all this group to be on wage rates since March last year, » Peter adds.