Federation of State and Municipal Employees

BSRB, Federation of State and Municipal Employees, is the biggest union of employees in public service in Iceland. Our members work in the fields of postal services, customs, police, fire resistance, health care, education of pre-school children to name but a few. BSRB-members are employed by local governments as well as the state.

BSRB is a confederation of 27 unions. Since BSRB was founded in 1942 the membership has increased steadily and is now aproximately 21.000 members, whereof two thirds are women. The total working force of Iceland is close to 150.000.

The unions in BSRB have the collective bargaining right. Sometimes the unions bargain individually but often under the auspices of BSRB. Since 1986 the unions have the right to strike, although their right is subjected to more restrictions than in the private sector.

BSRB unites its unions in the struggle for a comprehensive welfare state. In previous years this has really been a battle, as funds for various welfare services have been slashed quite substantially. At the same time the right wing governments in power this decade have acted like the privatisation of public firms and intitutions is the solution of all problems in the Icelandic economy. BSRB has challenged privatisation for the sake of privatisation. On the other hand BSRB has not categorically rejected privatisation as such.