Labor Day gatherings instigate road closures and activities throughout Reykjavik.
Festivities Take Over Reykjavik's Heart
Get ready for a action-packed day in Reykjavik's city center on May 1st, as the city celebrates International Workers' Day! The fun kicks off at 12:00 and continues until 15:30, with a variety of events scheduled. To make room for parades and gatherings, several streets will temporarily close, including the traditional workers' march route.
Besides labor-centered activities, there's something for everyone! The motorcycle group Sniglarnir will organize a charity group ride, and the Reykjavik Chamber of Commerce has lined up family-friendly entertainment in Klambratun park.
A Feminine Twist in the Workers' March
This year's workers' march has a unique twist: it'll be led entirely by women dressed in red stockings, reminiscent of the Red Stockings Movement of 1970. Back then, women in red stockings marched with a statue of Venus to protest, and although there was plenty of controversy, they were ultimately allowed to join the march's tail end.
The Workers' Representative Council is honoring this legacy by inviting those women to head the parade, with them delivering all speeches, making 2025 an official "Women's Year."
2025: A Year for Women's Empowerment
In a public address, the Workers' Representative Council announced that 2025 is a year dedicated to women's rights and equality. Joining forces with feminist, LGBTQ+, and disability advocacy groups, labor organizations aim to make substantial strides in this area.
Though progress has been made, the council acknowledges that the battle for equality is nonexistent. Wage inequality and widespread violence against women persist, and the council cautions that progress isn't guaranteed as there's a growing backlash. The council also criticizes government economic policy, claiming that essential services like healthcare, education, and welfare have been underfunded while taxes for the wealthiest have decreased.
Rally and Performances at Ingolftstorg
An outdoor rally in Ingolftstorg square will take place at 14:00, hosted by playwright and artist Kolbrún Dögg Kristjánsdóttir. The rally will provide sign language interpretation by Margrét Baldursdóttir and Lilja Íris Long Birnudóttir.
Speakers at the event include:
- Karla Esperanza Barralaga Ocón, a care worker, shop stevedore, and board member of Efling.
- Jóhanna Bárðardóttir, an electrical engineer and trade union steward with the Icelandic Confederation of Labor.
Red Stockings members will make a brief appearance, and musical performances by Mammaðín and Una Torfa follow, culminating in a public sing-along to wrap up the event.
- Amidst the Workers' Day festivities in Reykjavik, a focus on women's health and wellness will be addressed during the Women's Year rally at Ingolftstorg, with KristByrja, an organization advocating for women's lifestyle and health issues, hosting a booth.
- While the city celebrates workers' rights on May 1st, the science community is also collaborating with women's health advocates to promote awareness about women's health issues at various health-and-wellness booths set up throughout the city during the festival.
