The future of collective agreements was discussed on last evening's Kastljós, where Vilhjálmur Birgisson, chair of Starfsgreinasambandið (the Federation of General and Special Workers in Iceland), and Bjarni Benediktsson, former PM and current managing director of Samtök atvinnulífsins (the Confederation of Icelandic Enterprise), spoke about the issue. Vilhjálmur made Bjarni an offer regarding possible wage negotiations. "Are Samtök atvinnulífsins (the Confederation of Icelandic Enterprise), the government, Samband íslenskra sveitarfélaga (the Icelandic Association of Local Authorities), commerce and services, and all these parties prepared to commit to not raising the prices of goods and their tariffs by more than the Seðlabanki Íslands (Central Bank of Iceland) inflation target, which is 2.5%, for the remainder of the agreement period?" Vilhjálmur asked, saying he believed inflation would fall quickly as a result. Just as happened with the National Accord in 1990. Inflation was 25.6% in 1989, the National Accord was reached in 1990, and by 1992 inflation had fallen to 1.5%. Bjarni said there was sound thinking behind Vilhjálmur's offer - but with a qualification. "For there to be
