Teachers miss out on Gwynedd St David’s Day deal

TEACHERS in Gwynedd will not be given a bank holiday, a day in lieu or extra pay to mark St David’s Day, the council has confirmed.

This is despite classroom assistants enjoying a St David’s Day bonus payment.

Gwynedd County Council has also announced schools will remain open and day-to-day services in the county will continue as normal on St David’s Day.

Council offices will close, and office staff will enjoy a day off, while staff in vital services will be given a lieu day.

But teachers are excluded from the deal.

A Gwynedd Council spokesman said: “Gwynedd Council’s Cabinet has decided its workers should receive an additional day’s holiday this year to celebrate Wales’ patron saint.

“It is also a part of a wider campaign by the Council’s members to try and ensure March 1 is a designated bank holiday for the people of Wales in due course.

“The Council does not have the authority to allocate an additional day’s leave to the authority’s teachers, but the terms and conditions of classroom assistants are discussed locally here in Gwynedd.”

Gwynedd Cllr Alwyn Gruffydd welcomed the plans.

“It’s a long time coming, isn’t it? St David was alive in the sixth century. We’ve been waiting 1,500 years. I’m all for it,” he said.

“Of course there is disparity. But the teachers have their own contracts.

“We should have a day off to celebrate St David’s Day. We’ve got to remember our history. Unfortunately, if children won’t hear about St David’s Day in school, they won’t know about it at all. I would like to see this become a national holiday. You would think a council like Gwynedd would be enthusiastic about a St David’s Day bank holiday.”

Gwynedd County Council’s cabinet decided in January that staff would enjoy an extra day’s holiday to mark Wales’ national celebration.

The extra bank holiday will cost the council around £200,000.