Today is International Workers Day, May 1, a public holiday in Iceland. Many Icelanders join protest and solitary marches to demand better wages and benefits or simply a more just and equal society.
Since 1923 the Icelandic labour movement has marched on this day, and in recent years other groups have frequently joined the marches to draw attention to their issues, carrying placards with their demands or causes. The groups marching span the political spectrum and range of activists, including Anti-EU activists, Pro-Palestine groups, Anarchists, gay rights groups end environmentalist groups in addition to the traditional labour unions. The marches and other events of May 1 are family events.
The schedule in Reykjavík
The largest marches and meetings take place in Reykjavík, although there are meetings and marches in most towns and villages around Iceland. The marches are led by the marching bands of the unions. After attending meetings and marches Icelanders usually visit the dozens of different coffee and cake meetings organized by their labour unions or political parties.
In Reykjavík the march will gather at 13:00 at Hlemmur square, at the eastern end of Laugavegur street. At 13:30 the crowd marches down Laugavegur to downtown Reykjavík. Traditionally the group continues as a group to Ingólfstorg square where labour leaders hold speeches. At 14:10 the speeches will start at Ingólfstorg square.
Two rival meetings in downtown Reykjavík
This year, however, a second rival gathering will take place on Austurvöllur square, in front of the house of Parliament. This second gathering is organized by the new Icelandic Socialist Party and a group of activists who feel that the leadership of the labour movement has not fought hard enough for the rights of workers and is too cozy with the federations of employers.
The Organization of Disabled People has joined this second rival meeting, a leader of one of the largest labour unions in Iceland, the Union of Retail workers in Reykjavík, is also scheduled to hold a meeting.
Today is International Workers Day, May 1, a public holiday in Iceland. Many Icelanders join protest and solitary marches to demand better wages and benefits or simply a more just and equal society.
Since 1923 the Icelandic labour movement has marched on this day, and in recent years other groups have frequently joined the marches to draw attention to their issues, carrying placards with their demands or causes. The groups marching span the political spectrum and range of activists, including Anti-EU activists, Pro-Palestine groups, Anarchists, gay rights groups end environmentalist groups in addition to the traditional labour unions. The marches and other events of May 1 are family events.
The schedule in Reykjavík
The largest marches and meetings take place in Reykjavík, although there are meetings and marches in most towns and villages around Iceland. The marches are led by the marching bands of the unions. After attending meetings and marches Icelanders usually visit the dozens of different coffee and cake meetings organized by their labour unions or political parties.
In Reykjavík the march will gather at 13:00 at Hlemmur square, at the eastern end of Laugavegur street. At 13:30 the crowd marches down Laugavegur to downtown Reykjavík. Traditionally the group continues as a group to Ingólfstorg square where labour leaders hold speeches. At 14:10 the speeches will start at Ingólfstorg square.
Two rival meetings in downtown Reykjavík
This year, however, a second rival gathering will take place on Austurvöllur square, in front of the house of Parliament. This second gathering is organized by the new Icelandic Socialist Party and a group of activists who feel that the leadership of the labour movement has not fought hard enough for the rights of workers and is too cozy with the federations of employers.
The Organization of Disabled People has joined this second rival meeting, a leader of one of the largest labour unions in Iceland, the Union of Retail workers in Reykjavík, is also scheduled to hold a meeting.
