The trade union movement has over the years placed great emphasis on housing security for workers and has been an active participant in the development and discussion of housing issues. ASÍ and BSRB own the housing self-ownership organization Bjarg Housing Association for members of its member unions. Bjarg is the backbone of the public housing system and has built over 1,000 apartments for low-income workers since 2016.
ASÍ and BSRB are holding an open meeting on the public housing system
and the responsibility of municipalities in housing development in the run-up to the local elections. The meeting will take place
on Tuesday, April 28th at 9:00 – 10:30 in Edda and in streaming. The meeting will include a presentation of the association's new analysis of social housing and the development of the public housing system. Among the findings is that at the turn of the last century there were about 7,000 apartments in the workers' housing system, or about 7% of the apartments in the country. The workers' housing system was closed around the turn of the century and replaced by the marketization of housing security for low-income people.
Since the public housing system was established 10 years ago, 1,100 apartments have been built for low-income people, which corresponds to less than 0.7% of the apartments in the country. Social solutions in housing issues for working people have therefore significantly weakened and it is safe to say that the government has completely failed. Increasing the number of public housing for working people is therefore one of the most urgent tasks of those who will be elected to local governments on May 16th.
Where should low-income people live? The responsibility of municipalities in housing development
Open meeting of ASÍ and BSRB in the run-up to local elections
Tuesday, April 28th at 9:00-10:30 am at Edda, Arnfinnsgata 5
Morning refreshments will be served from 8:30 a.m
The meeting will be streamed here
Agenda:
8:30 The house opens
9:00 Opening address - Finnbjörn A Hermannsson, President of the Icelandic Confederation of Trade Unions
9:05 History and origins of the public housing system and Bjarg Housing Association - Video
9:10 Presentation of a new analysis on social housing and the public housing system
Róbert Farestveit, economist, ASÍ, and Jana Víglundsdóttir, economist, BSRB
9:30 History of the residents of Bjarg - Video
9:35 Government housing policy and the role of municipalities
Anna Guðmunda Ingvarsdóttir, Deputy CEO of HMS
9:50 The story of the residents of Bjarg - Video
9:55 Panel discussion
Dagur B Eggertsson, Chairman of the Government's Task Force on Housing Issues
Jón Björn Hákonarson, Chairman of the Association of Icelandic Municipalities
Sonja Ýr Þorbergsdóttir, chairwoman of BSRB
Sólveig Anna Jónsdóttir, chairwoman of Efling and board member of Bjarg
Björn Traustason, Managing Director of Bjarg Housing Association
10:30 Adjournment
The moderator is Brynja Þorgeirsdóttir
For further information, please contact: Henný Hinz, Deputy General Manager of ASÍ, tel. 663-9026 and Sigríður Ingibjörg Ingadóttir, General Manager of BSRB, tel. 895-0272
