Thirteen employees at the Keflavik naval base of the Iceland Defense Force will be laid-off because services for military aircraft are being put up for bid. These personnel changes were announced to representatives from the unions in the Keflavik area yesterday.
Over the last two years, 200 employees of the naval base have been made redundant. Restructuring and cost-cutting actions began in October, 2003 reports Morgunbladid.
There is considerable uncertainty regarding the budget to the US Armed Forces for the next fiscal year, starting October 1st. Discussions concerning on the future of the Iceland Defense Force are currently ongoing between the Icelandic and US governments.
A Defense Force press release states that the lay-offs do not impact the obligations of the naval base concerning the operations of Keflavík Airport, nor do they relate to the future of the Defense Force and the deployment of US forces in Iceland. According to the press release, Icelandic authorities have been notified of the redundancies.
