Björk's father threatened with libel suit

Iceland Review, 25 October 2005

The police will investigate the employment agency that recommended beating disobedient Polish workers reports the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service.

The Skilled Workers Union and the Labor Union of Akranes filed charges with the commissioner in Borgarnes yesterday regarding 2B's contracts with 10 Polish workers employed by Ístak in Grundartangi.

The labor union has confirmed that 2B does not have a work permit for the foreign laborers and the company is not permitted to import foreign laborers. According to the law only foreign companies are allowed to import labor.

Sveinn Andri Sveinsson, 2B legal council, did not make any objections to the charges. He said he was not happy with the comments by Gudmundur Gunnarsson, leader of the Icelandic Electrician's Union, on 2B. He said he was in fact so unhappy that he would sue for libel. Gudmundur said that the issue [2B's conduct] concerned organized crime. Gudmundur is the father of Iceland's most famous citizen—Björk Gudmundsdóttir.

Earlier this year, Gudmundur criticized the government's lack of initiative when worker's rights are violated at Kárahnúkar, the controversial hydro-electric development in East Iceland.