INVERCLYDE Council staff will not get an extra day off for the World Cup, after councillors voted against the idea today.
Members of Inverclyde Council’s Policy and Resources Committee voted 7:3 against a proposal by SNP councillors calling for all council staff to get an additional leave day.
Council leader Councillor Stephen McCabe said he was a passionate Scotland fan and had watched very match the team had played in the World Cup since 1974 but added he don’t “believe for a second” that qualification for the tournament for the first time in 28 years justified a holiday.
The Scottish Government has announced there will be a national bank holiday on Monday 15 June, although the council is not obliged to grant the holiday. Four Scottish councils have voted to implement a holiday and around 20 councils have voted not to give the time off. Mr McCabe pointed out that a number of SNP-led councils have rejected the proposal.
Scotland’s first match is on Sunday 14 June at 2am. The Inverclyde SNP Group’s motion would have involved the council’s schools and pre-five centres being closed on Monday 15 June, with school and early years employees required to take that day off. All other employees would have been given an additional leave day to be taken on 15 June or on an alternative date.
Officials state that the total cost would be up to £47,500, with no additional funding provided by Scottish Government.
SNP Group leader Councillor Chris Curley said the aim was for the community to enjoy themselves celebrating a national achievement, with benefits for local economies.
Councillors McCabe added that, as the match was at 2am on Sunday, people would not need Monday off to celebrate, adding: “If things go pear-shaped with Haiti we won’t feel like it.”
