Words by

grapevine

Today is International Workers’ Day, a national holiday in Iceland, and there will be parades around the country.
May 1, as a national holiday, means that many if not most businesses will be closed. Emergency services will still be available and some places might choose to stay open, but for the most part, this is considered a day for the country’s workers to rest – and attend a parade.
In Reykjavík, the public is invited to gather at the bus station Hlemmur today at 13:00. The march down Laugavegur will begin at 13:30, ending at Ingólfstorg at 14:10. There, speeches will be made on the state of the working class in Iceland. This may include issues from everything to gender wage disparity to raising minimum wages.
At 15:15, labour unions will hold coffee klatches at locations around the city. If you work in Iceland, chances are you’re in a union, and if you know what union you’re in, you can find your klatch at the following locations:
BSRB: Grettisgata 89
Efling: Valsheimilið at Hlíðarendi
Byggiðn: Ýmissalur music hall in Skógarhlíð
FBM: Hverfisgata 21
FIT: Ýmissalur music hall in Skógarhlíð
KÍ: Kaffi Reykjavík
Matvís: Stórhöfði 27, lower level
RSÍ: Stórhöfði 27, lower level
VM: Gullhamrar, Þjóðhildarstíg 2
VR: Höfðatorg, Höfðatúni 2
We at the Grapevine wish workers the world over a happy and restful Workers’ Day.