The History of Efling

The Foundation for Strengthening and Unification

Efling Trade Union was founded in December 1998 and began operating at the turn of the year 1999. The union was created through the merger of Dagsbrún and Framsóknar Trade Unions with the Sókn Workers' Union and the Restaurant Workers' Union.

The following year, Efling merged with Iðja, a factory workers' union in Reykjavík, and on January 1, 2009, the Boðinn Workers' and Seamen's Union merged with Efling. The mergers increased the number of members, strengthened the union, and significantly expanded its area of ​​operation.

The roots of Efling – Dagsbrún and the beginning of the labor movement in Iceland

Efling's roots go back to 1906, when the company's oldest predecessor, the Dagsbrún Workers' Union , was founded in Reykjavík. This marked a turning point, as for the first time, ordinary workers organized themselves into an organization to defend their interests.

For decades, Dagsbrún was one of the most powerful and largest trade unions in the country. Many social reforms and workers' rights in the last century can be attributed to the union's struggle, in collaboration with other unions and the Icelandic Confederation of Labour.

Preparations for the establishment of Dagsbrún began at the end of 1905, and at the founding meeting in January 1906, 384 workers joined the company. Its charter stated, among other things:

"We, who sign our names below, hereby decide to establish an association, which we call: Dagsbrún Workers' Association.

The aims and objectives of this association shall be:

1. To strengthen and promote the interests and employment of members.
2. To establish better organization for all day-to-day work.
   
3. To limit work on all Sundays and holidays.
   
4. To increase culture and brotherly solidarity within the company.
   
5. "To support members as much as possible who experience accidents or other mishaps."
   
   

In 1913, Dagsbrún led the first strike actions in Reykjavík. They led to great success: a ten-hour workday was introduced and employers recognized Dagsbrún as the workers' legitimate bargaining agent.

The first chairman of Dagsbrún was Sigurður Sigurðsson, a councilman. Other influential chairmen included Héðinn Valdimarsson , a member of parliament for the People's Party and later the Socialist Party, who served as chairman for 15 years in four separate terms (1922–1941), Eðvarð Sigurðsson , a member of parliament for the People's Alliance and chairman from 1961 to 1982, and Guðmundur J. Guðmundsson (Guðmundur Jaki), who led the association from 1982–1996.

The Working Women's Association Progress

The Women's Workers' Association Framsókn was founded in Reykjavík in October 1914 by 68 women from the Icelandic Women's Rights Association. A proposal had previously been made to establish a separate women's department within Dagsbrún, but it did not gain traction.

At the founding meeting, Jónína Jónatansdóttir , the main instigator of the association's founding, was elected chairwoman and served in the position for the first two decades. The association's board also included women such as Bríeti Bjarnhéðinsdóttir, a city councilor in Reykjavík and publisher of Kvennablaðis, who became the first woman to run for parliament.

The company's first bylaws stated:

"To support and promote the interests and employment of women members.
To better organize all their daily wage work.
To limit work on all holidays.
To promote the culture and solidarity of the association."

Progress fought for better conditions for female workers who worked alongside men but were paid less. Despite resistance from employers, the association achieved increasing success, including wage increases, shorter working hours, and recognition of coffee breaks. Progress also fought for equal pay for both sexes—a struggle that left a lasting mark on the labor movement.

Only five women served as chairpersons of the association until the merger with Dagsbrún in 1998. Jónína was succeeded by Jóhanna Egilsdóttir, a municipal councillor and later a deputy member of parliament, who served as chairperson for 27 years (1935–1962). The last chairperson was Ragna Bergmann (1982–1998).

The Workers' Girls' Association Parish

The Sókn Workers' Association was founded on July 20, 1934. There were 26 founding members, but a year later they had grown to 56. The first chairman was Aðalheiður Hólm , then only 18 years old.

The Labor Gazette of November 5, 1935 states:

"The working girls' union 'Sókn', which is only a little over a year old, has in this short time managed to significantly increase salaries at state hospitals and now with this agreement, the conditions of these girls have improved significantly."

Sókn joined the Icelandic Workers' Union on June 18, 1935. At that time, there were about 80 female members, most of whom worked in hospitals and homes in Reykjavík.

In 1960, the basic salary of the Parish Girls was 3,211.25 ISK per month, which is equivalent to about 144,000 ISK at 2025 prices. In a speech Margrét Auðunsdóttir , the association's chairwoman, at the annual general meeting in January 1960, she said:

"We are told that we live beyond our means and spend too much. Wouldn't those good government economists calculate how much a girl who wants to dress decently and have some fun would have to save on this purchase? The government could help them and tell them how much the wives and daughters of the rulers spend on clothing."

In 1977, the company changed its name and became the Sókn Employees' Association.

Restaurant Workers' Association

The association was founded in 1950. Aðalheiður Hólm, former chairman of Sóknar, described its founding in an interview with Vinnun on November 1, 1985:

"Many of them worked in shifts and I remember once coming to a room in the west of town where the girls took turns sleeping and resting – they had to share the room and bedding in this way. It was difficult to get in touch with these girls and most of them were scared. A man named Jón Rafnsson and I walked around town at night and met the girls, went into all the coffee shops and had lemonade and had a chance to chat with the girls. At Hotel Borg it was difficult to approach the people, but we managed to have a secret meeting with the staff in a room that a friend of Jón's had rented at the time."

The association was founded shortly afterwards and became an important participant in the fight for the rights of service workers in restaurants and accommodations.

Iðja – factory workers' association

Iðja , a factory workers' association in Reykjavík, was founded on October 18, 1934, in the midst of the Great Depression. There were 36 founding members, and the first chairman was Runólfur Pétursson.

The history of the Icelandic Confederation of Labour states that some employers refused to recognize the union. Björn Bjarnason, later the leader of Iðja, describes the unions' reaction:

"The response to this was that we simply took the company's building. We threw the staff out into the street and surrounded the building with the good help of unemployed workers. [...] This led to the owners of the company entering into agreements with us immediately after noon that same day."

The Workers' and Seamen's Union Boðinn

The Boðinn Trade Union and Seamen's Union had its roots in older trade unions in South Iceland, including the Ölfushrepp Small Farmers' and Trade Union, which in 1939 had 30 members. Boðinn worked in an area that included Þorlákshöfn, Hveragerði and neighboring villages and took an active part in the region's trade union struggle.

As of January 1, 2009, Boðinn merged with the Eflinga trade union.

Empowerment today

When Efling was founded in 1998, there were around 14,000 members . By 2024, 36,000 people into the union, making it the second largest union in the country and by far the largest workers' union in Iceland.

The company's main counterparties are the Confederation of Icelandic Employers, the City of Reykjavík, the Association of Healthcare Companies, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, and the Municipal Wage Committee.

The association operates many funds that support association activities and services for members, including a health fund, an industrial dispute fund, a vacation fund , and a social fund.

The first chairman of Efling was Halldór Björnsson (1998–2000). He was followed by Sigurður Bessason , who served as chairman until 2018. Sólveig Anna Jónsdóttir took office in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022.

Efling's board of directors consists of 15 members, the board of trustees has 130 representatives, and each of the company's funds is managed by a five-member board.