„We are unstoppable“ – Speech of chairman Efling at setting Eflingþings

Good day, dear comrades.

Ég býð ykkur öll innilega velkomin á fyrsta Eflingþing sem haldið hefur verið. Ég er innilega glöð yfir því að vera hér með ykkur – ómissandi fólki í allri verðmætaframleiðslu samfélagsins, ómissandi fólki sem heldur uppi velferðarkerfum höfuborgarsvæðisins, ómissandi fólki í verkalýðsfélaginu okkar allra, Efling.

Áður en ég segi meira langar mig að biðja ykkur um að gera eitt. Mig langar að biðja ykkur um staldra við og horfa í kringum ykkur, yfir salinn. Mig langar að biðja ykkur um að horfa á fólkið sem situr við sama borð og þið – og á fólkið sem situr allt í kringum ykkur. Horfið á þennan stóra hóp – fjölbreytta hóp – magnaða hóp – sterka hóp. Ég horfi á ykkur og ég upplifi stolt yfir því að vera í sama verkalýðsfélagi og þið – stolti yfir því að fá að vera formaður í félaginu okkar, stærsta félagi verkafólks á Íslandi – öflugasta félagi verkafólks á Íslandi – með öflugasta félagsfólkinu. Það sem við sjáum hér þegar að við horfum í kringum okkur eru ekki aðeins einstaklingar – nei við sjáum nokkuð miklu öflugra. Við sjáum fólk sem heldur samfélaginu öllu gangandi með vinnu sinni. Grundvallarfólk í samfélagi okkar. Grunvallarfólk í baráttunni fyrir réttlátu Íslandi.

Kæru félagar.

Frá því að við hófumst handa árið 2018 við að breyta Efling úr lokuðu skrifstofuvirki þar sem að raddir okkar sem tilheyrum stétt vinnuaflsins áttu ekki að heyrast – yfir í opið og lýðræðislegt samfélag Eflingfólks þar sem allir eru velkomnir, höfum við borið til þess gæfu að horfa alltaf á það sem sameinar okkur – aldrei það sem skilur okkur að. Við búum í veröld þar sem við fáum stöðugt skilaboð um að best sé að fólk skipti sér upp í stöðugt minni og fágætari hópa – hópa byggða á kyni, uppruna, húðlit, trú, kynhneigð og svo mætti áfram telja – skilaboð um að við eigum ekki að byggja brýr á milli verkafólks heldur reisa veggi – veggi sem að halda okkur í fjarlægð frá hvort öðru og minnka þar með líkur okkar á að ná árangri í baráttunni fyrir betra lífi fyrir okkur og fjölskyldur okkar.

Á þessu fyrsta Eflingþingi, líkt og í öðru starfi okkar, höfnum við þessari sýn alfarið – endanlega. Við komum hér saman til að minna okkur sjálf á, og íslenskt samfélag á eina mikilvægustu staðreynd lífs okkar: Við erum sterkust þegar við stöndum þétt saman – vinnum saman, berjumst saman, sigrum saman. Við erum sterkust þegar við viðurkennum og munum hvað sameinar okkur – það að við erum vinnuafl höfuðborgarsvæðisins – fólkið sem knýr áfram hjól atvinnulífsins og skapar hagvöxtinn. Við ætlum hér vissulega að eiga ánægjulega samveru – ætlum að hitta gamla vini og eignast nýja – borða og drekka saman, grína og hlæja. En við ætlum fyrst og fremst að taka alvörugefnar umræður um alvarleg mál – mál sem snerta líf okkar allra vegna stöðu okkar í þjóðfélagsgerðinni. Og við ætlum sameiginlega að móta afstöðu félagsins til þeirra stóru mála sem skipta verkafólk mestu máli – sem hafa hvað mest áhrif á líf okkar og tilveruskilyrði.

Því að staðreyndin – eins og við auðvitað öll vitum – er sú að við stöndum frammi fyrir fjölmörgum og alvarlegum vandamálum og hindrunum – hindrunum sem verða til vegna stéttaskiptingar þjóðfélagsins og misskiptingarinnar sem henni óumflýjanlega fýljir, líka í löndum? .. 

En staðreyndin er einnig sú – það vitum við líka öll – að verkafólk stendur alltaf frammi fyrir hindrunum – þá og nú. Valdastétt samfélagsins reynir ávallt að gera sitt til að koma í veg fyrir að viðurkenning náist fram á því sem ætti að vera óumdeilanlegur sannleikur: Vinnan – vinnuaflið – skapar verðmæti þjóðfélagsins. Þegar við lítum um öxl, sjáum við að saga verkafólks bæði hér og í öðrum löndum, löndum sem mörg ykkar koma frá, er ekki saga af auðveldu lífi og forréttindum. Nei, þessi saga er saga UM baráttu. Saga AF fórnum. Hún er saga af fólki sem skorti völd og auð, sem stóð frammi fyrir því sem virtust óyfirstíganlegar hindranir en sem tókst, í krafti samstöðunnar og óhagganlegri sannfæringu um að vinna þeirri væri uppspretta allra auðæfa og framþróunar í samfélaginu, að brjóta sér leið fram á við, án þess að gefast upp – samfélögunum sem þau byggðu til góða – öllum til hagsbóta. Slík samstaða, slík sannfæring og trú er það sem við eigum að byggja alla baráttu okkar á – þá munum við líkt og þau sem á undan okkur fóru einnig ná árangri. Líkt og þau segjum við: Einungis barátta verkafólks sjálfs getur búið til þrýstinginn sem þarf til að færast nær réttlæti. Atvinnurekendur og stjórnvöld munu aldrei sýna verkafólki þá virðingu sem þau eiga skilið fyrr en verkafólk sjálft kemur saman – sem fjölmennur og skipulagður hópur – og krefur þau um þessa virðingu. 

Dear colleagues.

The history of the workforce and the struggle of the organized labor movement is not only an old or distant story. It is also our own experience – it is also the story of recent years, the last month – of the present day. We think about what we have achieved together in recent years. We recall it and hold our heads high – we are the vanguard of the Icelandic labor movement. That is a fact that no one can deny.

Here behind me we see pictures of what we have been doing since 2018. We have not sat idle – because that goes far away. Incredibly many things have driven our days – so many that there is no way to go over it all here. But we give ourselves time to look at some events – for example we look back to the year 2019: Then we started the first strike actions of workers in the capital region for many decades on the international women's day March 8, and the first strike actions of the Icelandic saga that were raised by hotel workers. That day nearly a thousand hotel workers put down their jobs – mainly migrant women, everywhere from around the world. They left their workplaces, where they came each day to produce the goods for hotel owners in the capital region – they disappeared together after having voted for a work stoppage where 89% of them said yes to the strike.

The strike on Women's Day, March 8, 2019 was only the beginning – there we managed to revive the joy of a real workers' struggle in Iceland– joy in a barrel that everyone thought had been burned out – a barrel that we filled up with our strength and willpower. The winter of 2020 showed the staff of Efling who work for Reykjavík City, indispensable people, who keep the city running with physical and mental hard work in kindergartens, home care for the elderly, in guest houses, at waste collection and so on, you could continue to list, heroes of Reykjavík, the whole community how the power of the union works. When the city's bargaining committee did not listen to our demands to lower the lowest wages and correct the historically undervalued women's work we held a vote on strikes – 95.5% said yes to laying down work! The whole city felt our strength and importance; the city is in our hands we said and we proved that no one could deny it: When all the city's kindergartens closed and no one could doubt the importance of Efling staff who keep them running every day with their work.

And sometimes, when most people put years into a boat and claim they are speeding, the workers Efling have not hesitated – kept going – with the storm in the cage. In 2023 we faced the fact that the labor movement, the employers' association, the government and the state negotiator united in an attack on the legally and constitutionally guaranteed right of ours to make our own collective agreements. The then state negotiator tried – with the support of the most powerful people in society to force us to obey – to drag us before the courts in order to try to take away our union voice to carry out illegal voting on an illegal mediation conspiracy. An attempt was made to steal from us our democratic rights – an attempt was made to undermine the legality of us ourselves making decisions about the most important thing one can imagine – the price of our labor. Everything was tried – but still the blow fell such that the workers Efling remained upright and unbowed while the state negotiator and the director of the Confederation of Industry had to back down – leaving all trust after having sacrificed their humanity to try to force us into obedience. This winter we showed everyone that real democracy resides in the strength of the workforce and solidarity – not in the offices of corrupt and greedy officials handling the wealth's affairs.

I will briefly go over the story here – we are not given time to discuss everything that has driven our days – but I must recall the struggle of Efling people who worked in nursing homes of the capital last winter– the solidarity in that group was strong and delivered significant results for more than 2000 members Efling – with special additional increases similar to what we achieved with Reykjavík City in 2020.



There we made the first independent collective agreement for that huge group of indispensable people who work in nursing homes – the reason for the success was that a brave and determined group Efling members led the negotiations and never gave up. Such a force cannot be broken down. 

Dear colleagues.

We have not in recent years only had to fight against employers and the Icelandic Confederation of Labour – we have also had to tackle numerous problems within the workers' movement – problems related to the movement having abandoned genuine class struggle and instead being occupied with ensuring that well‑off people have even better living standards – ensuring that workers would not themselves engage in wage bargaining but that it would be entirely in the hands of university‑educated experts and their Excel calculations. Our militant spirit and the harsh approach to class struggle revealed a deep ideological disagreement about how best to fight. This revelation was necessary and long overdue. From the first moment in 2018 we faced strong opposition – and from day one we have had to make difficult decisions in all our activities within the workers' movement. The first question we had to answer was this: Do we intend to let the office machinery trap us and lock us in so that an unchanged situation can be maintained, the continuation of the domination of workers within the Icelandic workers' movement – or do we intend to challenge deep‑rooted and harmful customs and habits that do not serve workers' interests, to fight against workers' interests – do we intend to go our own way, independent and bold? Our answer – we intend to go our own way – caused massive oppression and caused great problems for us – but we never wavered from the path we wanted to walk and did not give up. Therefore we have managed to create a real advantage for ourselves, therefore we finally enjoy respect – therefore now no one can silence our voice. We break the silence that had fallen over class struggle in the capital region – we refused to be silent, out in the corner, at the back of the line. We refused that the only role of the workforce was to strive so that others could have it good. We refused the old leadership and the corruption and self‑interest that had taken hold in our union. We transformed the discussion – we step out of the shadows and into the spotlight – united, strong, proud. We refused to be meek and humble, to be victims, to be submissive – we spoke loudly and cleverly so that everyone had to listen: “We create the values – we are indispensable“. We are the force that can stop everything – and therefore we are the force that moves society forward – makes it better – makes it – makes it more equal – makes it more just.

———–

Dear colleagues.

The story I have briefly outlined here proves one thing without any doubt: when we come together, organized and battle‑ready, we are the strongest. And as soon as we have organized ourselves and turned our association into the foremost workers' union in Iceland, we have always found time to come together in friendship, joy and entertainment. Christmas balls, celebrations on May 1st, food and culture – such gatherings with friends and families are also what bind us together in respect and friendship – become an inspiration for us when we need it – when we have to face difficulties and problems.

Dear colleagues.

It is important that we are all on the same page about what our parliament is and what it is not. If we look at the laws Efling there is nothing mentioned about Eflingthe parliament and because of that the parliament does not have formal status. The parliament is in fact an experiment – a journey into uncharted territory – to pioneer the board of the association in cooperation with the trust council.

And now, with the setting of our parliament I can only feel excitement. 200 Eflingmembers have arrived as parliamentarians. The majority are already active in the social and political work of the association. Trustees, board members, representatives of the trust council, people who have taken part in wage agreement negotiations, strikes – struggle – have come together to discuss important, high‑political issues and reach a conclusion.

We are living people and therefore we know that it is rarely the case that everything is perfect on the first try. We may possibly have to deal with minor problems related to organization here in the parliament– and there will undoubtedly be times when we need to collectively figure out something we perhaps did not anticipate. Therefore it matters that we show each other patience– be constructive and friendly first and last. We do not intend to push and argue– we intend to discuss together and listen to each other. If things do not go exactly as planned we will not make a big fuss about it– we will focus on finding a solution together and keep moving forward.

If things go well for us today and tomorrow, which I am actually convinced they will – then I do not consider it unlikely that Efling assembly will be held again and could become a powerful part of the democratization of our society.

Dear colleagues.

I am fully aware that a great many issues affect us who belong to Efling. Housing costs, both for tenants and owners, weigh heavily on the members of Efling and families. Wage theft and breach of contracts are persistent problems that the ruling class refuses to face – because its members are not held accountable. Conditions at the workplace and the numerous problems we need to address there are harmful in our lives – reducing our quality of life by causing anxiety, stress and insecurity. We intend to focus on these matters. The board of Efling and the executive committee have put a lot of work into preparing for the upcoming congress – the chairman urged executive committee members to put forward their wishes regarding which issues should be discussed and based on those answers and information the union's leadership selected four issues that are currently on the agenda:

• Housing: Conditions of buyers and owners.
• Housing: Tenant conditions.
• Wage theft and breach of collective agreements.
• Empowerment in the workplace.

But despite the fact that these four issues lie before us – and in fact we have – to discuss everything that matters for Efling members. This is our parliament, our space and our trade union. We intend to have open and sincere discussions about members' issues – perhaps not about anything – we may keep it perhaps until the parliamentary session… but about almost anything!

But I still ask for your understanding regarding this: To maintain focus and ensure that the outcome of the parliament's work is completely clear, we all help each other so that the four items mentioned earlier are what the main focus is on.

We have, in fact, four well-formulated proposals on these matters, shaped by a confidential council after extensive discussions. It is important that we direct our collective energy toward delivering effective, harmonious or more harmonious statements from the groups' work. The goal of each group in the group work is to strive to achieve unity by allowing all voices to be heard.

But I want it to be made clear that even though ideas and discussions do not become resolutions here in the parliament, that does not mean that nothing will be said about it. In this parliament there are group leaders and scribes and they have the role of writing down all ideas and speculations, even if they are not directly related to the subject of the resolutions, because we want reliable sources to be available about everything that burned in the hearts of Efling members at the Efling meeting in February 2026, so that the board and the confidentiality council can continue to work on it in the upcoming work.

I will only say a few words about democracy. Often it is portrayed as if democracy is nothing but rules and laws and elections every few years. Of course all this is very important – but the fact is that real, living democracy is a blend of two fundamental elements; formal rules and the participation of people in discussing and shaping what ultimately matters in all matters – which is the result of where to head, for what purpose and by what methods. And for that to happen people need to feel that they are being listened to! – that they are welcome in the discussion! – people need to experience respect! – and that it is completely obvious that their voice is important!

Við í Efling getum átt fullkomnastu lög í öllum heiminum, en ef félagsfólk okkar upplifir sig ekki velkomið, ef það upplifir ekki að rödd þeirra og skoðanir séu ekki teknar alvarlega þá hefur okkur mistekist hraparlega. Þá eru lögin ekki einu sinni virði pappírsins sem þau eru rituð á: Því lýðræði snýst um að byggja upp raunverulega þátttöku – um að skapa rými eins og hér í dag og á morgun – þar sem að fólk VILL TAKA ÞÁTT af því það veit að á það er hlustað!
Því ætlum við öll, þegar við hefjum þetta sögulega þing, að standa saman í því að muna þetta: Við ræðum málin af ástríðu og við komum skoðunum okkar á framfæri af staðfestu – við megum vera ósammála, þannig æfum við okkar í að tala og hlusta, útskýra og skilja – þannig skerpum við hugmyndir okkar og afstöðu. En við ætlum ekki að gleyma því – við ætlum aldrei að gleyma því – að við erum í sama liði, í dag og á morgun – þannig getum við verið í sama liði alla daga.

Because the struggle that lies ahead, just as the one behind, demands unity and profound solidarity. It will demand that we look at all the many and real obstacles that are in our way – the privileged class that thinks it may rule everything and own everything, the political class that prefers to work for the interests of the rich rather than ensure a just society, employers and superiors who want to push their own agenda without taking into account what VIÐ want and VIÐ need to maintain – and we say, so loudly that no one can pretend not to hear, no one can pretend not to understand – in one breath:

We are the workforce.

We create the values.

We are indispensable.

We are Efling.

And we are unstoppable when we make a decision to stand together!

We intend to make this first Eflingunity to a great victory. From the year 2018 we have written the history of the workforce of the capital region – we now begin to write the next chapter.

I declare that the first congress Efling is here set!