Cardiff Council debate staff St David’s Day holiday

The Propel Group of councillors in Cardiff has put forward a motion for a full day off for all staff from 2023 onwards.

Propel Leader Neil McEvoy said,

“The Welsh Capital’s Council should take the lead. Years back we guaranteed a day off if requested by staff, we should go further and give all staff a day off. If the public sector takes the lead, we can have a virtual bank holiday through our own actions, without waiting for Westminster to give us the nod.

The Propel motion will be debated on St Patrick’s Day, which is a worldwide celebration. I want St David’s Day to have the same status. We are Welsh and proud. Let’s celebrate our national day properly.”

Councillor Keith Parry said,

“The 1^st March should be the start of the Welsh tourist season. The whole of Wales should have the opportunity to celebrate being Welsh. We should all be metaphorically painting our towns red on our national saint’s day.  The cultural and economic benefits are so obvious. Let’s get it done. “

The motion to be debated is below:

The Council asks the Cabinet to consider:

1.       officially recognising St David’s Day by giving a day’s leave to its workforce in order to celebrate our Patron Saint’s Day on 1 March 2023 and every year thereafter;

2.      putting in place the necessary consultation with staff and trade unions to achieve an effective bank holiday for Council staff;

3.      bringing a report to a future Council outlining the economic and cultural benefits St David’s Day bank holiday, including assigning financial and in-kind support for all future St David’s civilian parades.

Furthermore, the Council calls on the Westminster Government to devolve to Welsh Government the power to create bank holidays for Wales (via the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971) – in the same manner as already happens in Scotland and Northern Ireland