The story

Báran, trade union was established in its current form on June 25, 2002. It was formed following the merger of three associations in Árnessýsla, and Báran's service area covers the region from Ölfusá to Þjórsá. The association's name, Báran, is the original name of the oldest association that was part of this merger, which was Báran of Eyrarbakki. 

Three clubs in one

On January 11, 2000, it was decided to merge the Thór Labor Union and the Bárun Labor and Seamen's Union in Eyrarbakki. The new union was named Báran-Þór. Subsequently, it was decided that the Labor and Seamen's Union Bjarmi in Stokkseyri would also join this merger. This became a reality in early 2002, and on June 25, 2002, the founding meeting of the new union was held, which was then named Báran, a trade union.

The wave at Eyrarbakki

The origins of Báran's founding at the beginning of the last century were that Sigurður Eiríksson, who was often called a regluboði, envisioned this society as a temperance and interest group for sailors, as he was a leading figure in the Order of the Good Templars. The association was originally called the Sjómannafélagið Báran in Eyrarbakki.

Báran, a society of seamen and day laborers, was founded in the Bræðrafélagshús on February 14, 1903. The association operated continuously until 1961 but was revived after a two-year hiatus on December 21, 1963, at Fjölni in Eyrarbakki.

The promoters of the society were Sigurður Regluboði Eiríksson and Ottó N. Þorláksson. Sigurður was an official of the Order of the Good Templars. He was also a great social advocate, organist, and singing teacher.

Pat in the warehouse

In its early years, Báran always held its meetings in the Bræðrafélagshús, which was an old warehouse. The club got free use of the building, but amenities were very scarce and there was no heating. People often shivered when the weather was cold. Therefore, Bjarni Eggertsson wrote the following:

Although sometimes there's a party in the Packhouse,
and the boys get to contend with the chills,
Then I think it's worth it, for the sake of the other one,
Shake off the shiver, no toll to anyone.

The Chairpersons of Bárunnar

The first chairman of Bárún was Guðni Jónsson, nicknamed „Formaður,“ in Einarshöfn. Other members of the board were Einar Jónsson and Guðmundur Kristjánsson, who also served as chairman of the society on and off. He was followed by Sigurður Þorsteinsson, who was chairman from 1909-1910, and Bjarni Eggertsson, who was chairman from 1910–1915 and later served on the board for a total of twelve and a half years. Þorfinnur Kristjánsson was chairman in 1915. Einar Jónsson, chairman in 1916. Thorleifur Guðmundsson, chairman in 1929. Then, Andrés Jónsson of Smiðshúsum first served as chairman in 1930. Bjarni Eggertsson, chairman in 1931. Þorvarður Sigurðsson took over the chairmanship at the end of 1931. Kristján Guðmundsson became chairman in 1939. Sigurjón Valdimarsson became chairman in 1942. Then, Andrés Jónsson took over the chairmanship again in 1963. Kjartan Guðjónsson from Sandprýði took over the chairmanship of the association around 1972. Guðrún Thorarensen took over the chairmanship from Kjartan Guðjónsson in 1980. The last chairman of the old Bára before the merger was Eiríkur Runólfsson, who took over the chairmanship of the association on March 25, 1984.

Guðni the Strong

The first chairman, Gudni Jónsson, was born in Steinskot on Eyrarbakki on June 5, 1867. His parents were Jón Sigurðsson, a farmer in Steinskot, and Ingibjörg Guðnadóttir from Þverspyrna in Ytrihrepp. Gudni's wife was named Sigríður Vilhjálmsdóttir and was from Rangárvellir. They had one son who died young and was unmarried.

Guðni was large in stature and a great presence on the field. He was said to be extraordinarily strong in his younger years and was then given the nickname Guðni the Strong. One story says that he would often lift a full keg to his chest, pull the nail out with his teeth, and drink from it as if it were a half-anchor. Many also saw him empty a full bottle of liquor in one gulp. However, Guðni was very calm and wise, which drew attention. He was a long-time farmhand for Andres Asgrimsson, but he also went to sea and was the captain of a rowboat, being known for his boldness and good catch.

However, Gudni later became one of the best templars, and soon after that, he was elected chairman of the Bárunnar workers' union. However, it was not to be in Gudni's fate to grow old. He suddenly fell ill while on his way to Þorlákshöfn with gear and other equipment for a sea voyage, and passed away shortly thereafter on February 26, 1912, at the young age of just 45. The following farewell poem was composed by Brynjúlfur Jónsson from Minna-Núpur on behalf of the Workers' Union in 1912:

Greetings from the Workers' Union 

The ancient saga 

was the same every day, 

and still new and new, 

that various deaths await, 

to pass in the prime of life. 

And in the midst of manly deeds 

Our association may remember, 

and a lot can be found about it, 

on this heavy path, 

Here we must bid you farewell. 

at the final crossroads. 

Dear colleague and friend of ours, 

We miss you very much. 

We have brothers 

too few, who are you. 

May the cleverest prevail., 

so you lose your way. 

Harm that is not soon repaired is soon undone. 

Your pure and modest disposition, 

wisdom and prudence were bound 

and the will was strong. 

I was wrong to trust you 

from the sacred spark of faith 

May your life's work be brightened by a bar. 

Now you're leaving sooner than expected., 

Now you are accompanied by a garden 

Our sorrowful, grateful heart. 

Now you are joining a higher society 

to redeemed heavenly brothers. 

We'll meet again there. 

Take care. 

Brynjúlfur Jónsson. 

The Charger, Thorgeir the Rich

The workers at Eyrarbakki didn't always fare very well, and so it was when the sea wall for Skúmstaðir land was built in the years between 1830 and 1840 that the workers felt their wages weren't enough to cover the wear on their clothes. However, there was one man in their number who did quite well for himself. He was Thorleifur Kolbeinsson, then a young man, later a merchant at Háeyri, who went by the name Thorleifur the Rich. It was said that in the evenings after work, he would search around the store's premises for scraps of leather and bits of homespun cloth that teamsters had left behind, which they otherwise used for saddle padding. Thorleifur got something out of that search and would sit in the evenings mending his clothes and shoes with these scraps, as he reportedly managed with the same set of clothes for the entire three years this work lasted.

Chain of the Bar Association

Báran in Eyrarbakki was the first club on the priority list of Sigurður and Grand Master Otto of the Báran associations. Their agreement was that Otto promised Sigurður he would establish a „seamen's lodge“ in Reykjavík in exchange for Sigurður establishing „Báran chapters“ in the fishing villages of Southwest Iceland. And Báran in Eyrarbakki became the third chapter outside of Reykjavík.

According to some, there were 12 founding members, but the membership soon grew to 18 people. The first minute book is believed to have been lost in a house fire around or after 1930.

Agreement with the Lefoli store

In 1905, Báran had become a workers„ union, and that year a labor agreement was made with the shops in Eyrarbakki regarding wages and working hours. However, there was not full agreement among the members on this matter, and at one club meeting where the issue was under discussion, Erlendur gamli in Smiðshúsum said the famous words: “I don't want any damn briar for the Lefoli store."

The main negotiator of the agreement was Ólafur Bjarnason from Silfurtún, father of Thorkell the merchant of Eyrarbakki and later a bank clerk in Selfoss. Under this agreement, the wage was raised from 12.5 to 19 aurar. During the haymaking season, however, wages were paid that were up to half higher.

The sheriff stepped in 

These events must have taken place in the latter half of 1905. Sigurður Þorsteinsson was somewhat involved in this, as he was on the committee that initially dealt with the matter. Also on the committee with Sigurður was Ólafur Bjarnason from Stíghús, and the chairman was Guðni Jónsson. Sigurður then relates the following: 

„A contract was drawn up and it was planned that all the workers would sign it. Before it was made public, another committee member and I went to meet with County Commissioner Sigurður (Ólafsson) and asked him to review the contract to see if it complied with applicable laws and if it could serve as a precedent, should the need arise. 

Some had noticed that the sheriff was making his way down to Bakka that evening, but that same evening a well-attended meeting was held (in the Elementary School building) where everyone signed the agreement, with the exception of 5 or 6 people who declined. 

The next morning, a notice was posted in the shops that starting the next spring, workers would be hired on an hourly basis (previously, they were paid a daily wage of 12 hours at 12 ½ pence per hour). 

This hourly wage was admittedly slightly lower than what was specified in the contract, but still 2/5 higher than it had been before. We had some assurance that Sigurður, the county governor, had been involved in mediating a settlement in the matter, and based on this, the issue was negotiated so that no conflict would arise for the time being. It was agreed at a meeting of the union to adjust the contract to this temporarily. Later, the store partially broke this agreement, and the 5-6 men mentioned earlier were certainly involved in it. 

As a result, a settlement meeting was held at Bakkan which lasted 8-10 hours. The settlement ended with the store acceding to all the demands of the workers' union board and promising that it would no longer terminate contracts on its part. 

I have a strong suspicion that the conciliation meeting was drawn out for as long as it was because advice was sought from Sigurður the county governor during the meeting.“ 

– Sources from an interview with Sigurður Þorsteinsson, published in the book Gamalt og nýtt, ed. 1948. There, Sigurður praises all the honorable men involved in the matter: County Commissioner Sigurður and store manager P. Nielsen, but he does not wish to pass judgment on the five or six unnamed men who tried to oppose this agreement.. 

Various development issues 

On February 18, 1906, a members' relief fund was established. 40 members were founding members the first year, and the annual fee was 25 cents, but the fund's main source of income was for the most part from raffles and parcel auctions. That same year, a merchandise ordering department was established within the association, but it was soon disbanded because people preferred to pick up goods in the stores on credit rather than pay cash for the ordered items. 

In 1906, the construction of the harbor breakwaters was the largest project in the village, and many workers were employed on the construction of this remarkable structure. The labor union had significant say in the work arrangements and hiring, with the exception that the Eyarbakkahreppur municipality reserved the right to assign ¼ of the work in exchange for a 1,000-króna contribution. 

In 1907, merchants were admitted to the society, and around the same time, the society began publishing a handwritten newspaper called Blær, which was published for a decade. 

In 1908, the „telephone issue“ was on the agenda. It called on the township to participate in operating a telephone exchange. The main proponents for laying the telephone lines were goldsmith Oddur Oddsson and sales manager Jón V. Daníelsson. The telephone exchange then began operating on September 9, 1909, and Oddur became its first manager. 

Until 1907, the society held its meetings free of charge in the Bræðrafélagshús, a warehouse at Háeyri, but there was no heating and the lighting was poor. However, annual general meetings were sometimes held in the elementary school. Later, meetings were often held in the community hall Fjölni. 

In 1910, a proposal was made for the association to undertake the construction of a new bakery, and it was believed that this would lower the price of bread by two cents. Shortly thereafter, a capital campaign was launched and made some headway, but the project never progressed beyond building a basement. Due to a lack of funds, further construction was abandoned, and many people lost money. 

In 1910, there were between 50 and 60 members and in addition nine honorary members who were 60 years of age or older, but a decade later the membership had tripled. 

Sand and Sewer Issues 

In 1942, Ólafur Ólafsson was the chairman, and the „gravel issue“ was on the agenda. The association wanted to ensure that gravel would not be transported out of the village without being processed. Instead, the villagers were to be guaranteed its processing. Another important issue was the „sewerage issue,“ as the association considered it a „necessary matter of public health“ to install sewer lines throughout the village. 

In 1943, employment issues were the focus, and there were proposals for large-scale fisheries operations and the construction of a doctor's residence for the county physician. The association called for more funding to be allocated to these matters. 

In 1947, the „ASS affair“ stood out, as the association wanted to establish the Federation of Labor of South Iceland, but the Federation of Labor of Iceland was against it. 

In 1949, the „cost-of-living issues“ were a major topic, as the index skyrocketed to 326 points that year. 

By 1950, the freezer plant had become the main issue and would continue to be so for the next several decades, along with fishing and harbor construction.

Under the influence of the British occupation

The establishment of the labor union in the growing urban area by the Ölvusá River Bridge was determined by circumstances that Vigfús Guðmundsson, the first chairman of Þór, described in an interview with his son, Þór, on April 24, 1990. This was recalled on the occasion of the union's 50th anniversary on January 5, 1991, when its history was recounted. It described the circumstances that forced people to establish a labor union. 

Starting in the 1930s, the population of Ölfusá grew, as the settlement by the Ölfusá Bridge was then called, which actually belonged to Sandvíkurhreppur and is now called Selfoss. Casual work increased, for example, construction work and processing jobs at the Dairy and the Cooperative. One by one, men got jobs on the road crew. However, it was mainly men from Eyrarbakki who took those jobs. These day laborers also included sons of farmers and even farmers from Sandvíkurhreppur. Often, these day laborers would go on winter fishing seasons. Economic conditions were difficult then; a depression had hit, and employment was insecure. 

After the British occupation in 1940, major construction projects began at Kaldadarnes, including the building of a military airfield and other structures, on a scale never before seen there. Initially, it was the residents of Eyrarbakki who were hired for the work, and the Báran Trade Union in Eyrarbakki acted as the representative for the workers. It was more difficult and less secure to get hired for day laborers in Sandvíkurhreppur, some of whom were poor, and people felt it was unfair, since the work site was in their parish. This greatly spurred people to push for the establishment of a labor union. One of the main initiators was Björgvin Þorsteinsson of Hamar (now Eyravegur 5), a passionate advocate for labor issues. 

Certainly, it was seen by more than just the workers that it was in the township's interest for a labor union to be established under these circumstances. 

Establishment of the Workers' Union Thor

Some of the background was the founding of the labor union Thor. It was first recorded in the minutes when several workers from Sandvikurhreppur gathered at Tryggvaskáli on Friday, December 20, 1940, for the purpose of discussing the establishment of a workers' association in Sandvikurhreppur. 

Björgvin Þorsteinsson called the meeting and described the background of this idea, noting that repeated attempts had previously been made by some of the men present to establish such an association, but they had always been unsuccessful due to insufficient participation. Björgvin then read aloud the minutes from the February 20, 1938 meeting and a draft of the bylaws that had been written and discussed. 

In addition to the locals, Gunnar Benediktsson and Kristján Guðmundsson from Eyrarbakki were present at the meeting. Gunnar Benediktsson took the floor and explained to the men the purpose of such an association as was being discussed and the difficulties that might be encountered, especially in the beginning. The association would be small, but it would have to contend with tough business operators. He asked the men not to let the difficulties seem too daunting. 

Kristján Guðmundsson explained to the attendees the bargaining agreements of the Bárunnar on Eyrarbakka, as well as the workers' dealings with the British in Kaldaðarnes. He and Gunnar Benediktsson emphasized good cooperation with the labor unions in Stokkseyri and Eyrarbakka. 

The following proposal was approved at the meeting: 

„We propose that a labor union be established in Sandvikarhreppur, and that the meeting elect a three-person committee to prepare the bylaws for the union.“ 

The following men were elected to the committee: 

Johan Hannesson, Vigfús Guðmundsson and Guðbjörn Sigurjónsson. 

At the beginning of the meeting, Grímur E. Thorsteinsson arrived. Objections were then raised to his attending the meeting. He then demanded a vote on the matter. A vote was held, and it was decided that he should leave the meeting, which he did immediately. 

Formal establishment of Thor in 1941

A follow-up founding meeting was then held at Tryggvaskáli on January 5, 1941, and the association was formally established, its bylaws approved, and a board of directors elected. 

Chairman was elected Vigfús Guðmundsson, Secretary Guðbjörn Sigurjónsson, Treasurer Sveinn Sveinsson. To the board of directors were elected Jóhann Hannesson, Guðmundur Guðjónsson, and Sigurjón Steinþórsson. Auditors were elected Björgvin Þorsteinsson and Ásbjörn Guðjónsson. 

Nineteen men were present at the meeting, and they are all registered as the founders of the association. 

The society was named The Thor Workers' Union. 

The first chairman 

Vigfús Guðmundsson was the chairman of the association until June 30, 1944, but then held various positions of trust for the association until he joined the Truck Drivers' Association Mjölnir in 1953. 

On June 30, 1944, a new chairman took office. He was Björgvin Þorsteinsson. At that meeting, the Hraungerðishreppi district was added to the association's territory, and the board of trustees was elected for the first time. Four men were elected, with four others as alternates. 

Remarkable agreement with the British

Thór joined the Federation of Icelandic Trade Unions on January 23, 1942. The most significant events in the union's history are considered to be the agreements it made with the British occupation forces shortly after its founding. This is reported in *Vinnunni* on the 50th anniversary of ASÍ in 1965. It states that it must have been unique for the British Empire to have made collective bargaining agreements with such a small trade union. These agreements are believed to be lost, and it has not been revealed who signed them on behalf of the British. 

The first mention of base work in the VLF Bárunnar minutes is at the December 2, 1940, general meeting. The British occupation forces then for the first time paid the Dagsbrún wage scale in Reykjavík, along with the standard meal and coffee breaks. On September 23, the head of the occupation force requested that Icelanders work during coffee breaks, take only a half-hour for meals, and that wages be correspondingly raised to 1.95 kronur per hour. Soon, the occupation forces lowered the wage to 1.78 krónur per hour. Some disputes arose over the matter, and on January 3, 1941, 200-300 people were all fired. 

At a meeting of the Bar Association on January 5, 1941, Jóhann Ólafson, a son of a businessman and fluent in English, reported on his interview with British officers in Kaldaðarnes and said they disagreed with the work stoppage that the garrison's command had imposed on January 3. 

It seemed that the matter had been put in motion from higher up, and on January 9, 1941, the Bar had an offer from the British occupation forces of 2.06 kronur per hour, based on a nine-hour workday. The offer was accepted immediately. 

„Jón Ólafsson took on the role of interpreter for the Icelanders in the airport work, but his job evolved into being a labor representative and, for a time, even the base's hiring manager. He initially hired Eyjafjörður residents for the job, as they were the most familiar with the work. It was said that he „swept the village clean.“. 

-Source from the report of Páll Lýðsson from Litla-Sandvík, „From British Work to a Better Life“. 

Agreement with the township and store 

The union announced a purchase price on June 26, 1944, but the employers refused to accept it, and a work stoppage was then called for July 11, 1944. However, it never came to that, as an agreement was reached on July 8. These were the first agreements the association made with the Selfoss Township Council, the Kaupfélag Árnesinga, and other parties in the area. 

In 1945, preparations for a May Day celebration appear to have been made for the first time, and a committee was elected for that purpose. The following year, the Thór Workers' Union invited the Dairy Workers' Association to participate in the May Day celebrations. 

A proposal for the Southern People's Union 

At the annual meeting on April 10, 1947, the newly established municipality of Selfoss Township was added to the association's area, bringing its total to three townships. 

That same year, the association received a proposal to establish the Southern Union of Labor, with its territory to extend from Búðardal all the way east to Vík. However, the societies in Reykjavík and Hafnarfjörður were to be excluded. At the meeting, a letter from the Federation of Icelandic Trade Unions was also discussed, which ruled such a union illegal. It was decided to reject participation in the establishment of such a federation. 

In 1949, Einar Jónsson became chairman and served as chairman of Þór until 1951, when Einar Sigurjónsson took over. It was then decided that Þór would become a member of the establishment of the Representative Council of the Trade Unions of Árnessýsla. 

At this time, the trade unions do not always seem to have been willing to obey the instructions of the Federation of Labor. It was resolved at the annual general meeting on March 4, 1951, that it was not considered timely to terminate the contracts, despite recommendations from the ASÍ to do so, until it was guaranteed that the solidarity of the associations in Árnessýsla was secure. 

Not much interest in women's membership

In 1953, it was first discussed at a club meeting whether women should be admitted to the club, as by then it was already quite common for women to work outside the home. 

Vigfús Guðmundsson was in favor of admitting the women as associate members and assisting them in contract negotiations. However, it was agreed to postpone action on the women's admission requests until an opinion from the ASÍ had been received. 

Frímann Einarsson took over the presidency of the association in 1954 and served for one year. 

In 1955, meeting minutes show that the admission of women to Thor was still being discussed, but it is clear that the men were not very interested in admitting them to the club. It was considered better for them to try to establish their own club, and the decision on their admission was still postponed. 

At the annual general meeting on April 25, 1955, Skúli Guðmundsson was elected chairman of Þór, and the association's strike fund was then formally established with a founding contribution of 5,000 krónur, and it was decided to contribute 20 krónur from each member's annual fee to it. It was also decided that it would earn 0.51% interest on the funds deposited into it. The annual membership fee was then set at 115 krónur. 

The following year, it was decided that all proceeds from the May Day festivities would go to the strike fund, and there was discussion of further increasing contributions to it so that 50% of members' annual dues and all fees from auxiliary members would be directed to the fund. 

The association fund's contribution was later reduced again because it was deemed that it could not support such large expenditures. 

It was then decided to raise the membership fee to 140 krónur, but it was approved not to charge a membership fee to members who were 70 years of age or older. That decision still stands. 

In the latter half of 1956, it was announced at a general meeting that a board of the representative council of the labor unions in Árnessýsla had been elected. The chairman was Björgvin Sigurðsson, the secretary Sigurður Árnason, and the treasurer Kristján Guðmundsson. Some criticism was expressed about the establishment of the representative council. 

Name changed

In early 1957, the association's area was expanded again, now covering the Grímsnes parish east of the River Sog, as well as the parishes of Selfoss, Sandvíkur, and Hraungerði. The reason the Grímsnes area was included was that it had not been possible to revive the Íra Trade Union, which had previously operated in the Grímsnes and Grafning areas. 

At the annual general meeting on February 25, 1958, it was finally approved that women working for the various businesses in Selfoss be admitted to Thor, and the name of the association was changed to the Thor Trade Union. 

However, it does not appear that women joined the association until 1961, when 18 women requested admission. At that meeting, it was discussed whether there should be any restrictions on the admission of women to the society, especially those who worked outside the home for only a short time of the year. This resulted in 13 women being admitted, and five more joined the society at the very next meeting. 

At that meeting, it was approved that no one would be a full member unless he or she had previously worked for at least five months in the association's area. It was then considered that the conditions for restricting women's admission had been met. 

Women have since joined the association in fairly equal numbers to men, although men have usually been slightly more numerous on the membership rolls. 

At the annual general meeting on May 15, 1963, a regulation for the association's sick fund was adopted, although some funds had already been distributed from the fund as needed. 

The sick fund's regulations state that the treasurer of the sick fund shall be the chairman of the board, but Geirmundur Finnsson had been the treasurer of Þór since 1960. He has held that position with great conscientiousness ever since, for over 30 years. 

In 1964, Sigurður Einarsson was elected chairman, succeeding Skúli Guðmundsson, who had held the position since 1955. Sigurður served as chairman of Þór until 1969, when Benedikt Franklínsson took over until 1972. Sigurður then took over the chairmanship again and was the club's chairman until 1977, when he did not run for re-election and was succeeded by Hjörtur Hjartarson. 

In April 1964, it was approved for the Thór Labor Union to become a member of the founding of the Icelandic Labor Federation, and Sigurður Einarsson was elected as the union's representative to the founding meeting of the Labor Federation. At the same meeting, it was decided to move the association's documents and operations to a facility at 8 Eyravegur, which would be leased from the Selfoss municipality in cooperation with the other organizations involved. 

Community area expanded 

On April 1, 1965, it was again decided to expand the area of the Þórs club, and it then also covered the uplands of Árnessýsla, that is, Þingvalla, Laugardals, Biskupstungna, Hrunamanna, Skeiða, and Gnúpverjahreppar, in addition to the districts that were already included: Selfoss, Sandvíkur, Hraungerðis, and Grímsneshreppar. 

In 1967, it was decided that the association would purchase a share in a vacation home in Ölfusborgir, in partnership with the other associations that were members of the Representative Council of the Trade Unions of Árnessýsla. 

In the fall of 1972, at a late annual general meeting, the first woman was elected as an alternate to the Board of Trustees, and since then, women have steadily increased their participation in the society's activities, with many distinguished women becoming involved. It seems that men now have no objection to having women by their side in the association. 

At the society's annual general meeting in 1980, Thórður Sigurðsson became the chairman of Þór, succeeding Hjörtur Hjartarson. At that time, there were major conflicts within the society. However, it was not the first time conflicts had occurred; people argued fiercely when opinions were divided. 

Following this, or in 1981, a decision was made to terminate the membership in the operation of the office that the trade unions had shared for many years. After this labor union cooperation ended, Thor ran the office by himself, initially with one employee, but soon a half-time position was added, followed by another half-time position a few years later, which was much needed. 

The first woman in the chair 

At the annual general meeting in early April 1982, the first woman took office as president. She was Ingibjörg Sigtryggsdóttir, but by then women had already been participating in the society's board for about 10 years, and it was no longer considered a big deal. Perhaps, however, some people thought, though they didn't say so, that things were now going badly for the Thór Workers' Union. At this annual general meeting, in fact, far more women than men were elected to the board for the first time in the union's history. Since then, an effort has been made to maintain equality as much as possible. 

In 1983, consideration was given to whether the association could purchase its own property, as its office had been operating in leased premises at 22 Austurvegur, where there was very limited space for any activities other than office operations. 

A space on the upper floor of the newly built building at 29 Eyravegur was inspected, and it looked like it could be purchased on good terms. Later that same year, the purchase of the premises, which was then unfinished, was finalized. The seller agreed to build the interior fittings, and the company was to take possession of it fully completed. 

In December of the same year, the Thór Trade Union moved its operations „…finally into its own premises after having been nomadic for 44 years,“ to quote the exact words of Sigurður Einarsson, the union's former chairman. 

There was great celebration among the members for this milestone, and such optimism prevailed that talk began of selling the club's share in the vacation home in Ölfusborgir and securing a plot of land for a clubhouse that the club would own outright. 

Summer house construction

The decision was made to secure a plot of land for a summer house in Úthlíð in Biskupstungur, where the surroundings are very beautiful. A newly built summer house was then moved onto that land the following year, in 1984. 

The house was built by Hafsteinn Stefánsson, who was an employee at the association's office from 1984 and later served as vice president. There was room on the lot for another house, should it be decided later to expand the vacation home property. Since then, another summer house has been added, which was then jointly owned by Thor and the drivers' association Ökuþór. The association also owns a vacation apartment in Akureyri, so it is clear that the optimism has not diminished. 

Stokkseyri Lighthouse

The Bjarmi Labor and Seamen's Union in Stokkseyri was founded on February 12, 1904, at the Good Templar Hall in Stokkseyri, with 36 founders. The association's area was the municipalities of Stokkseyri, Gaulverjabær, and Villingaholt. It was decided at the founding meeting that members would pay a 50-auri annual fee. Bjarmi joined the ASÍ in 1922. 

The first president of the society was Jón Adólfsson, and with him on the board were Ásgrímur Jónsson as secretary and Guðni Árnason as treasurer. The main driving force behind its founding was Sigurður Eiríksson, a regent and the father of Bishop Sigurgeir. 

The chairman of the association for three decades, or into the 1970s, was Björgvin Sigurðsson. He was also, for a time, chairman of the Board of Delegates of the Trade Unions in Árnessýsla. 

Immediately after its founding, the men began working on wage issues. The union's first collective bargaining agreement was signed on February 8, 1905, and it read as follows: 

„From April 1 to July 1, 20 cents per hour for men and 15 cents for women. From July 1 to September 10, a minimum of 30 cents per hour for men and 20 cents for women. From September 10 until the end of the year, the wage shall be 20 cents per hour for unloading and loading, and 15 cents for other work. – All wages shall be paid in cash.“ 

It was approved to increase pay by five cents for night work, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., and also a five-cent increase for Sunday work. 

Bjarmi ran a thriving mail-order company for a long time. It later became the foundation for KÁ's successful retail operation in Stokkseyri. 

Bjarmi greatly promoted various projects in road construction, harbor improvements, sewer construction, the strengthening of the fishing industry, and more. The company also took the lead in establishing a cooperative that purchased three boats in 1933. 

In 1910, the association led the establishment of a health board in Stokkseyri. Ideas for a sick benefit society were also raised in 1911, but it did not become a reality until 1942. 

A welfare fund operated within the association for decades, paying per diems in cases of illness, as well as the portion of medication costs and medical care not covered by the health insurance. The fund also provided funeral benefits and paid for doctor's visits and more. 

Driver in Selfoss

The drivers' association Ökuþór was founded on Tuesday, February 20, 1945, at the Selfoss movie theater. The first chairman of Ökuþór was Steindór Sigurðsson. Along with him on the board were Karl Eiríksson, secretary, and Jón Ingvarsson, treasurer. 

The main proponents for the establishment of the association were Jón Ingvarsson, Karl Eiríksson, and Brynjólfur Valdimarsson. 

According to the association's bylaws, its territory was the Selfoss district. Brynjólfur Valdimarsson was the association's chairman for a long time, and it joined the ASÍ in 1950. 

Thor and Uatu combined

After the association moved into its own building and acquired the summer houses, its activities proceeded without major events, until it was decided that the Ökuþór Drivers' Association would merge with the Thór Trade Union on December 14, 1995. It was also decided to admit all members of Ökuþór en masse with full rights. It was believed that this move would be to the benefit of the members of both associations. Ökuþór contributed all of its assets, including its share in the summer house in Úthlíð. 

During these years, a discussion arose among the trade unions in Selfoss about the unions jointly purchasing a building that could accommodate all of their activities, as well as the operations of the Employment Service in distributing unemployment benefits. 

From this, the Labor Union Thor, the Árnessýsla Retail Workers' Union, and Samiðn, the Craftsmen's Union, purchased No. 3. the 3rd floor of the building at 56 Austurvegur, which was unfinished, and work began to fit out the space to be as convenient as possible for the operations of all the unions and the Employment Office. It was considered a great benefit for the members that all these activities were in one location. It should be noted that the Southlands Education Network also has a facility in this building. 

Broader integration 

By 2000, there had been some discussion about the possibility of merging the Thór Trade Union, the Bárun Trade and Seamen's Union in Eyrarbakki, and the Bjarma Trade and Seamen's Union in Stokkseyri. Finally, in 2000, it was decided to merge Þór and Bárun, and after the required legal meetings, the two unions were merged on January 11, 2000. The new union was named Báran-Þór. 

Ingibjörg Sigtryggsdóttir stepped down due to ill health in early 2001 after 19 years of service. Kristján S. Jónsson was then elected president of the association; he had previously been president of Ökuþór and held other positions of trust there. After the merger of the associations, he was also on the board of Bárunnar-Þórs for a time. 

It was decided to give Bjarmi in Stokkseyri a longer period for consideration, but talks about the merger continued. In early 2002, it was decided that Bjarmi would merge with Báran-Þór, and on June 25, 2002, the founding meeting of the new association was held. It was decided that the union would be named Báran, a trade union, as the Working-Class and Seamen's Union Báran in Eyrarbakki was the oldest of the unions involved in this merger, having been founded in 1903.