The Icelandic Air Traffic Controller Association (ICEATCA) has announced an overtime ban set to take effect on November 25, unless negotiations with the Confederation of Icelandic Enterprise are resolved before then. The announcement comes as the union continues pushing for a new labor contract, with an arbitration meeting scheduled for November 18.
The overtime ban is a deliberate pressure tactic. In a recent press release, the ICEATCA said it was the most reasonable step available to members, especially given that workers have been without a valid labor contract since the start of 2025. Previous rounds of discussion have gone nowhere.
This is not the union’s first move. Back in October, ICEATCA organized a five-hour strike that disrupted 15 flights at Keflavík Airport — a clear signal of what prolonged deadlock can mean for Icelandic aviation. Both sides are well aware of what is at stake as the November 18 arbitration date approaches.
