President of Viska

Brynhildur Heiðar- og Ómarsdóttir

At Viska, we have united in a strong labor union to ensure a solid negotiating position at the collective bargaining table, improved services for our members, and a stronger voice in public discourse.

Candidacy for President of Viska

Dear members,

My name is Brynhildur Heiðar- og Ómarsdóttir, and I am running for re-election as President of Viska.

I have served as President of Viska since the organization was founded at the end of 2023. Prior to that, I held the position of President of Fræðagarður. Over the past two years, together with the board and staff, I have worked on building up Viska — always with the aim of creating a strong union that provides powerful advocacy and outstanding service for its members.

I am seeking the support of our members to continue the development that has begun at Viska, in order to build a strong and dynamic union that actively participates in public discourse.

Merger and social infrastructure

Viska Union became a reality at the end of 2023, through the merger of three unions within BHM: Fræðagarður, the Association of Icelandic Social Scientists (FÍF), and the Union of Library and Information Scientists (SBU).

The idea of a merger was born at the beginning of 2023, when the presidents of these three unions sat down for discussions with the managing director of the unions’ shared service office. It quickly became clear that merging into one large trade union was easier said than done. In the Nordic countries, it is much more common for unions to join forces, but there are fewer examples of this in Iceland. The boards of the three unions sought guidance from other unions that had gone through mergers and did everything in our power to ensure the merger succeeded in a spirit of political harmony and cooperation.

During Viska’s first year of operation, the board was composed of representatives from the founding unions, and we were tasked with building all the internal structures of the newly united organization. Throughout the year, we worked to review and implement the regulations and workflows of the new union.

The board emphasized building social infrastructure — exploring how we could strengthen solidarity and member engagement across Viska’s diverse groups by forming specific trade sectors and social networks active in the union, as well as increasing collaboration with professional and university student associations. We also placed a strong focus on enhancing Nordic cooperation, and the union has now established formal collaboration agreements with similar unions in other Nordic countries, ensuring support for Viska members working abroad in those countries.

Over the past year, Viska welcomed the trade sectors of the Association of Icelandic Architects (AÍ) and the Association of Icelandic Visual Artists (SÍM), who became part of the union. At the same time, formal cooperation agreements were signed with both AÍ and SÍM.

A strong office and improved services for members

In addition to developing Viska’s social infrastructure, the board also had to build a strong office to handle labor issues and provide services to our members. The office staff worked closely with the board in developing member services.

At the beginning of 2024, there were seven employees at Viska’s office; by the end of the year, we had grown to ten. The office now includes advisors who offer direct services to members, as well as specialists who work on labor matters, research, and labor market analysis.

Members can contact the office for assistance with matters related to their workplace rights, as well as receive guidance on employment-related topics such as job searching, hiring processes, termination, sick leave, and pension rights. A social worker is also part of the team, providing tailored support to members dealing with illness or difficult personal circumstances.

In the fall of 2024, the office moved into new premises at Borgartún 27. Viska now has access to its own assembly hall — previously, we shared space with other BHM member unions. The Viska Assembly Hall will serve as the heart of the union’s future community activities, where we can host educational events and gatherings for members, and also offer facilities for internal group meetings within the union.

In spring 2024, the union launched its new website, viska.is, where members can find answers to key questions about labor rights and union services. The site also features a “My Pages” section, allowing members to track the status of their inquiries and service requests.

Continuous improvements of wages and working conditions

Alongside the organizational development, Viska engaged in collective bargaining negotiations with all our counterparts over the past year. In the summer, we were the first BHM union to sign a long-term agreement with the state, and in the autumn of 2024, we signed long-term agreements with the municipalities and the City of Reykjavík.

In the fall of 2024, Viska signed a collective agreement for the first time with the Confederation of Employers (FA), an important step in securing the rights of our members working in the private sector. In February 2025, Viska also signed a collective agreement with the Association of Welfare Service Providers (SFV), and at the time of writing, ongoing negotiations are taking place with the Confederation of Icelandic Enterprise (SA).

The founding unions of Viska had institutional agreements with 109 institutions, most of which were outdated. During the year, a specialist was hired to oversee these institutional agreements and the job evaluation systems under which Viska’s members work, with the goal of ensuring all agreements are regularly reviewed and updated in the future.

Our goal at Viska is to work toward continuous improvements in working conditions for our members. Salary increases and contractual improvements aren’t only achieved at the bargaining table every four years — the union office also has a duty to drive ongoing improvements through regular updates to institutional agreements with the state, active participation in reforming the municipalities’ job evaluation systems, and continuous dialogue with private sector companies on behalf of our members.

Equality and the future of the labor market

A long-term mission for those of us working within the labor movement is to correct the skewed valuation of different types of work. Traditional female-dominated professions are generally valued and paid less than traditional male-dominated ones. I believe it is crucial that we, within the labor movement, join forces to correct this imbalance.

Correcting long-standing gender-based wage inequality is a matter of justice, and it goes hand in hand with many other essential efforts that must continue to be prioritized — such as bridging the gap between parental leave and preschool, increasing flexibility in the workplace, improving work environments to combat burnout, preventing violence and harassment at work (#MeToo), and addressing intersectional discrimination. A diverse workforce strengthens the Icelandic labor market and society as a whole. We need to increase the availability of Icelandic language instruction for immigrants in the workforce and ensure that newcomers are aware of their rights and working conditions.

A major task for Viska — both in the short and long term — is to safeguard the position of workers in a labor market undergoing rapid changes. While smart technology and artificial intelligence certainly offer various opportunities — opportunities that some Viska members are well positioned to take advantage of thanks to their education and experience — they also pose risks, such as changes to job roles and the rise of contract work. Viska must be a strong voice advocating for workers’ rights in this shifting labor market landscape.

Stronger together

Viska now has over 5,300 members, making us one of the largest trade unions in the country. There is much to focus on. We need to follow through on changes to the student loan system, ensure housing security and child benefits, strengthen sick leave rights in the private sector, protect pension rights — and the list goes on.

We are a large and powerful union and should take an active role in shaping public discourse — for the benefit of us all. To make that happen, the union must maintain a strong public presence, and I believe I am well equipped to lead that work in close collaboration with our members, the board, and our sister unions within BHM.

Solidarity among working people is the foundation of our fight for better conditions — especially for university-educated professionals. Much has been achieved in recent years and decades, but many victories still lie ahead if we are to improve the quality of life for everyone. If I am elected President of Viska, I will work with integrity and determination to improve conditions for our members and advance justice in the labor market.

I look forward to hearing from you — whether you have questions, ideas, or challenges to share.

Let’s shape a better future together!

About Me

I was born and raised in Reykjavík, and have a B.A. in Comparative Literature from the University of Iceland and an M.A. og M.Phil. in English Literature from Columbia University in New York. I now study public administration at the University of Iceland, part-time while also working. I have a keen sense of justice and fair play and I believe that a strong and organized labor movement is fundamental in improving the wages and working conditions for all of us who live and work in Iceland.

I serve as the president of Viska, the largest labor union in BHM, a confederation of unions for members with a university education. Viska is a fast-growing and diverse organization, with members working in all sectors of the labor market. As president, I aim to open up our union to diverse voices. Inclusion, human rights and democracy are key to strengthening our union and our society.

I served for over a decade as the Secretary General of Kvenréttindafélag Íslands, the Icelandic Women’s Rights Association, a civil society formed in 1907 to work on women’s rights and gender equality. During the course of my work, I have co-operated closely with the labor movement in Iceland, for example in organizing Kvennafrí, the Women’s Strikes of 2016 and 2018, and organizing the congress of #MeToo women in 2018. We will not achieve women’s liberation until we secure women’s financial independence.

I have also worked as a freelance literary critic and have written and produced various radio programs for RÚV, the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service. My experience as a freelancer has taught me that we who work as independent contractors often lack representation in organized wage bargaining.

I have extensive experience in union and organizational work, beginning in my high school years when I first served on a student board. I was first elected to the board of Fræðagarður in 2019 and became Chair in 2022. In the spring of 2023, merger negotiations began between Fræðagarður and two other unions within BHM — the Association of Icelandic Social Scientists and the Union of Library and Information Scientists. That autumn, the three unions merged under a new name — Viska — where I currently serve as President. I also serve as Board Secretary of Fjöruverðlaunin — a literary award for women and queer authors — and sit on the board of the European Women’s Lobby, a pan-European umbrella organization for women’s rights.

I am a practiced public speaker, both in Icelandic and in English. Media appearances include CNN International, BBC World News, DR 1, France 24, NPR, Deutsche Welle and Vox on Netflix.

I am a passionate advocate for education, reading, knowledge building, and open and free access to information. I have cataloged (most of) my library and published its contents on the internet. I published a children’s book in 2010, Sjáðu svarta rassinn minn, a collection of feminist folk tales from Icelandic folklore. You can listen to many radio shows I have produced on literature on the website of RÚV. My two favorite are no doubt the one about the afterlife of books where I investigate what happens to books when we need to cull our bookcases and the one I wrote to my grandfather where I explore Icelandic literature in Esperanto, equality, peace and freedom at the margins of Europe.

President of Viska (2023–). Chair of the trade union Viska, the largest member union within BHM. I lead collective bargaining on behalf of our members and collaborate with other labor market stakeholders to improve working conditions. Together with the board and staff, I have worked to build up the union’s office, which provides services to members, conducts research and analysis on their position in the labor market, and carries out general advocacy work.

2023
President of Fræðagarður (2022–2023). President of the trade union Fræðagarður. During my term as President, I took part in merger negotiations with other unions within BHM, which led to the founding of Viska in the autumn of 2023.

2022
Secretary General, Icelandic Women’s Rights Association (2011–2022). I was responsible for the successful leadership and management of the organization. My duties and responsibilities included responsibility and accountability for the organizational budget and ensuring adequate financing; project management and event planning; advocacy and encouragement of women’s rights by giving lectures and writing articles; writing official commentary on legislation in Alþingi – the Icelandic parliament; monitoring the Icelandic government’s fulfillment of international obligations in gender equality and women’s rights; developing and maintaining international cooperation; public relations and press communication

2011
Information Officer, Gljúfrasteinn (2010–2011) Gljúfrasteinn is a museum, housed in the former home of Halldór Laxness – Iceland’s Nobel Prize winning poet. Responsibilities included maintaining daily operations; directing and overseeing the work of associates; planning and directing various cultural events; collecting and providing service and information to scholars and other visitors to the museum; participating in the writing of a book about the museum and its collection.

2010
Lecturer, Johannes Gutenberg Universität, Mainz (2005–2006) I taught two courses on American Literature at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany.

2005
Graduate Student Teacher and Teaching Assistant, Columbia University, New York (2003–2009) I attended graduate school at Columbia University. As a part of my study at the university, I taught several courses in academic writing at the college level. As a graduate student teacher I was responsible for the curriculum of these courses, lecturing, teaching, and final grading. I also worked at the university’s writing center and as a teaching assistant to professors.

2003
Independent Literary Critic (2000–) I have worked independently for over a decade as a literary critic, by writing articles for newspapers and journals, writing book reviews, giving lectures on feminism, culture and literature, and editing several magazines. I have published one book, Sjáðu svarta rassinn minn, a collection of feminist folk tales for children. Since 2011, I have written and produced various radio programs for RÚV, the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service. My programs primarily deal with literature, culture and women’s rights.

2000
Various Jobs Teaching and in Libraries (1998–2003) While studying at the University of Iceland and Columbia University, I also worked as a library clerk and teacher. I worked as a library clerk at the Reykjavík Public Library (1998–2000) and as a children’s librarian at Garðabær Library (2001–2002). I worked as an English teacher at a social center for senior citizens (1998–2000), a paraprofessional at an assisted living residence (2000) and as a peer educator for the Reykjavík Sports and Youth Council (2003).

1998

Issues

The Labor Market

Wages and Rights

Ensure that education is properly reflected in wages, follow through on reforms to the student loan system, and safeguard pension rights.
Revise the municipalities’ job evaluation systems to ensure that wages align with education, experience, and responsibility.
Take action to secure the rights and working conditions of self-employed individuals and members in non-traditional employment relationships. Services and support for this group must be improved.
Strong collective agreements, with timely and professional preparation based on the demands of members and in close collaboration with BHM member unions.
Ongoing improvements to institutional agreements and job evaluation systems under which Viska members work.

Working Conditions

Eradicating violence and harassment in the workplace, holding employers and the government responsible, guaranteeing professional work procedures and a transparent process.
Improving working conditions and guaranteeing the physical and mental wellbeing of our members in regards to work pressures.

Income Equality

Prioritize the reevaluation of work traditionally seen as women’s work and the revision of the Equal Pay Standard.
Bridge the gap between the end of parental leave and start of guaranteed daycare.
Ensure that immigrant workers have access to appropriate education about their wages and rights in the Icelandic labor market, as well as access to Icelandic language instruction.

Solidarity

Good cooperation with the labor movement in Iceland. The solidarity of all working people, including university graduates, is key to achieving higher wages and better working conditions.

Viska

Better Services

Continue developing Viska’s services and office operations.
Increase consultation with members, e.g., through regular online member meetings and periodic service surveys.
Provide more education for members, such as information about their rights in the labor market.
Strengthen support for members seeking employment.

Social Infrastructure

Continued development of the “My Pages” portal for union members.
Strengthen the work of member networks and bargaining units within the union, and increase the number of active groups.
Enhance collaboration between the union and the various professional fields represented within Viska.
Ongoing development of Viska’s services for students.

Increased Visibility

A stronger public voice and presence for the union, along with continued development of Viska’s social media platforms.
Regular research and analysis on the status of union members in the labor market.

Professional Internal Operations

Establish and formalize the procedures and operational guidelines that have been developed for Viska’s activities

Contact Me

I encourage you to be in touch, if you have any questions and suggestions.

I look forward to hearing from you. Together we will create a better future!

Brynhildur

brynhildur @ outlook.com