Exemplary facilities for workers
Representatives of the Federation of General and Special Workers in Iceland (SGS) got acquainted with the operation of Samherji's high-tech processing plant in Dalvík today after the facilities had been more or less closed for months due to the pandemic. Björn Snæbjörnsson, chairman of the Federation of General and Special workers in Iceland, who is also chairman of the trade union Eining-Idja, says that the facilities for workers in the building are exemplary.
Processing began in the new high-tech processing plant at the end of July last year, but due to Covid-19, the staff has had to work under very demanding conditions. For example, no outsiders were allowed to enter the facilities for months.
The vast majority of the employees at Dalvík's processing plant are members of Eining-Idja. Therefore, it was appropriate for the representatives of the trade union and Federation of General and Special Workers in Iceland to familiarize themselves with the operations at the first opportunity, which they did today.
Thorsteinn Már Baldvinsson, the CEO of Samherji, greeted Björn Snæbjörnsson and Flosi Eiríksson, the managing director of SGS, when they arrived. Gestur Geirsson, the managing director of land-based production at Samherji, and Jörgen Óskarsson, the head supervisor at the plant in Dalvík, then led a tour of the facilities.
Sound attenuation and lighting
"The board of Eining-Idja had inspected the house before production began last year, but the pandemic has prevented a visit like today, which is truly pleasing and long-awaited. All the technology here is excellent, and it's fantastic to see how prominent Icelandic ingenuity is. For example, you immediately notice the sound attenuation in processing rooms, which is a huge health issue. The same can be said about the lighting, which is very good," says Björn Snæbjörnsson.
Jobs change with more advanced technology
Snæbjörnsson says it is evident that a lot of thought went into the staff's working conditions when the building was designed. "With more advanced technology, most jobs in fish processing have undergone significant changes, which are clearly visible here. The jobs have become more specialized and, at the same time, less demanding physically. Here, all the conditions are exemplary. Covid-19 meant that the staff had to work under very demanding conditions, and fortunately, they were able to keep the production going. It was good to get an opportunity today to chat with the employees and get to know all the technology and facilities in the house," says Björn Snæbjörnsson.
