Reykjavík workers mourn leisure centres after city restructuring

More than 100 employees of Reykjavík’s social centres and leisure centres gathered at Reykjavík City Hall on Tuesday to mourn what they called the collapse of the leisure centres, mbl.is reported. They placed candles and flowers outside the building.

Organisational changes to the city’s welfare department and school and leisure department took effect on Tuesday. The city announced last week that 86 employees in the departments would be laid off, although 32 of them will be rehired.

“We were mourning the collapse of the leisure centres, the organisational changes and their impact on professional work at social centres and leisure centres,” said Valgeir Þór Jakobsson, deputy chairman of the professional section of Frítíminn, which operates under Sameyki. He attended the ceremony at City Hall.

Managers of the city’s social centres and leisure centres also gathered to mourn what Valgeir described as their former workplaces. The changes affect the Kringlumýri, Tjörnin, Brúin and Miðberg leisure centres, among others.

Valgeir said those gathered wanted to express their concerns and demand that Reykjavík’s sitting city council involve them in the next stages of the restructuring.