St David’s Day could be holiday for Ceredigion council workers

Denise Owen, Ceredigion Council community education manager

Council workers in Ceredigion could be spending St David’s Day at home with their families next year.

UNISON, the largest union representing council workers in Ceredigion, had called on the local authority to grant council staff a day off on St David’s Day this year.

Council leaders rejected this request but said they would consider the possibility of a public holiday for its staff on March 1 2023.

The news comes as Neath Port Talbot Council has agreed to create a report that will look into the potential of making St David’s Day a holiday for its employees.

Gwynedd council has also granted its workers a day off to celebrate St David’s Day.

Despite the UK Government rejecting the plans for a national bank holiday, the move in Gwynedd was granted at a cabinet meeting in January.

Earlier this month Ellen ap Gwynn, outgoing leader of Ceredigion Council, confirmed to UNISON that the Plaid Group is willing to have a motion put to Council following the elections in May in preparation for next year.

Denise Owen, Ceredigion Council community education manager (pictured above), said: “Working life has changed so much over the course of the past two years and so have the pressures and responsibilities attached to all our jobs.

“It would be a really nice sign of appreciation from the council if we were able to celebrate St David’s Day at home with our families.”

Simon Dunn, UNISON regional organiser in Ceredigion, said: “We welcome the council’s commitment to consider St David’s Day as a public holiday for its staff next year.

“As authorities such as Gwynedd have shown, this can be a fantastic way to thank the workforce who have given and continue to give so much to the communities they serve.”