Pressure is growing on Falkirk councillors to give locals an extra day's holiday to mark the coronation of King Charles. The trade union Unite has now written to all councillors asking them to reject officials' advice to move the traditional May bank holiday from May 1 to May 8, rather than give staff an additional day off.
They are asking councillors not to impose "what is in effect a reduction in holiday entitlement compared with other public sector bodies and private companies". While the Scottish Government has confirmed that there will be an additional bank holiday on Monday, May 8 to recognise the coronation on Saturday, May 6, it will be up to individual councils to make and fund their own arrangements.
A report going to members of Falkirk Council's executive next Tuesday explains that giving staff an additional day off this year - as they did for last year's Jubilee - would cost £260,000. It says that moving the public holiday from May 1 to May 8 "has a minimal impact on cost and service provision" while still allowing the Council to recognise the event.
But the report also makes clear that all three trade unions representing council works - Unite, the GMP and Unison - do not approve of this bid to save cash.
Unite's letter tells councillors: "We agreed last year to move the holiday so that it could be added to another and therefore give staff a long weekend to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee. This was a one-off from the union’s point of view. It would appear that some employer’s representatives view that co-operation and positive engagement last year instead as a sign that we will acquiesce to them playing fast and loose with the May day holiday in any given year. This is most certainly not the case."
The report going to councillors points out that many council staff were given an extra day's holiday as part of the recent pay agreement. It reads: "Officers are also very aware of the costs of a public holiday and financial position of the Council, and the impact if additional monies are to be found."
The report also acknowledges that if the proposed changes are agreed, the change to move the May 1 public holiday "may cause some disruption to families and school-based staff who may have already booked holidays based on the published term dates".
Staff representatives will be consulted to reach an agreement, similar to the approach taken last June for the Platinum Jubilee holiday. The proposal will be discussed on Tuesday, January 17 at 10 am in a meeting that will be livestreamed.
Falkirk Council's Labour group have already said they want to make sure locals get an extra day's holiday.
And Falkirk North Conservative councillor James Bundy said: “The people of Falkirk are expecting a bank holiday on both 1st May and the 8th May and that is what they should get. After the tough years of lockdown, an extra day off will be good for us all.
“The King’s coronation is also a once-in-a-generation event. And whilst I understand that not everyone is a monarchist, it is an opportunity to bring our country together and celebrate the traits we are proud of. Having a bank holiday, I believe, adds to this event, and helps create a unity we should all want. The benefits of this on people’s welfare and community empowerment is worth way more than the financial cost.”
