World Cup: No Bank Holiday in Fife despite prediction of ‘euphoria’
Fife Council has rejected plans to give staff a Bank Holiday to mark Scotland’s return to the World Cup.
Councillors followed the lead of 11 other local authorities across Scotland in rejecting the move which was first floated by John Swinney, First Minister, and given royal approval by King Charles, for a day off on Monday, June 15 to mark the country’s opening game against Haiti.
That game kicks off in Boston at 2:00am UK time on Sunday, and marks Scotland’s return to the World Cup finals after a near 30-year absence.,
But a Bank Holiday would mean school closures and impact on council services, while businesses across Fife were also not obliged to grant it.
Councillors at Thursday’s Cabinet meeting were given three options - give staff the day off, refuse the Bank Holiday, or grant an additional day’s leave, ideally on the 15th.
The cost of implementing the holiday was put at £275,000, but officers produced a raft of issues which would then arise, including disruption to schools and the impact on parents who might not get the day off, and an “unquantifiable cost of lost productivity.”
A report to councillors added: “Essential services would need to continue to operate and there would be no recognition for those working on the actual day of the match, potentially causing dissatisfaction in the workforce.” Education bosses were also strongly opposed to closing schools.
Councillor Altany Craik (Glenrothes West & Kionglassie, Labour) said a day off was “nice to have rather than essential” and added: “If we get to the final that is a very different question altogether.” But there was support from the SNP Opposition benches where Councillor David Alexander - who is heading to the USA to support Scotland - said the committee was under-estimating the “euphoria” set to sweep the nation this summer.
“Most of you have no idea the absolute state of euphoria that will happen in the days before World Cup,” he said. “The whole country will be talking about it. This is going to be be fantastic. The negativity coming from this one day I do not understand. The councils doing it will be heroes all over Scotland and the ones that aren’t will be miserable. We can afford this.”
The committee voted 12-9 against the Bank Holiday. So far only three local authorities have said staff can get the day off, 11 have said no, and 18 have yet to decide.
NHS Fife is waiting on a national position on the issue - the report said no local discussions are currently taking place. There is no legal requirement for councils or businesses to close on the Bank Holiday.