Reykjavík dismisses school support staff after outsourcing cleaning

Several school support staff employed by Reykjavík City have been dismissed after the city decided to outsource cleaning services at 19 primary schools, mbl.is reports. Kári Sigurðsson, chairman of the Sameyki trade union, said two dismissed employees had contacted the union and that more cases were known.

The employees were dismissed last week. The total number of school support staff who have lost their jobs is not yet known.

School support staff perform a range of duties in the city’s primary schools, including assisting students during the school day. After classes end, they often handle cleaning duties.

Cleaning outsourced to two companies

On July 9, Reykjavík City’s Procurement and Construction Council approved bids from Dagar hf. and Sólar ehf. for cleaning services at 19 primary schools. The tender was opened in late April, while the previous majority coalition was still in office, and was divided into four lots.

Dagar will provide cleaning services at 15 of the schools and Sólar at four. Reykjavík City operates 38 schools in total, including two special schools.

The contract with Dagar and Sólar will run for four years once it is fully implemented. The city may then extend it twice, for one year at a time.

According to a submission from the city’s School and Recreation Department, this is the first time cleaning services have been put out to tender simultaneously at several primary schools.

The estimated annual turnover under the new contracts is 141.6 million, excluding value-added tax.

Representatives of Samfylkingin and Vinstrið on the Procurement and Construction Council approved the bids. They also stated that employees who wished to do so should be offered jobs by the new service providers.