By Gemma Fraser
Head of content
Pressure is mounting on police chiefs and government ministers to give cops the World Cup bank holiday, after NHS staff were granted the day off.
The ‘staff side’ associations representing police officers in Scotland have formally requested that their colleagues get the extra day added to their annual leave entitlement, 1919 has learned.
Although no decision has been made, it is understood that they have been told verbally that police officers will likely not benefit from the national holiday.
Monday June 15 was officially confirmed as a public holiday earlier this year to mark Scotland’s return to the men’s football World Cup for the first time since 1998.
It will be held the day after Scotland’s opening match against Haiti in Boston.
As with all bank holidays in Scotland, there is no law requiring businesses to close.
However, NHS staff were told last month that they would be granted time off, adding fuel to the police staff side’s argument.
It has written to the Police Negotiating Board for Scotland (PNBS), which makes decisions on police pay and conditions and is made up of representatives from the staff side and the ‘official side’.
David Kennedy, staff side secretary and general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said: “We understand not everybody can get the public holiday, so that’s why we’re saying put it in their annual leave and that way they’re not getting paid any extra money for taking annual leave.
“It’s outrageous if they decide they’re not going to give it to police officers.
“This was announced by John Swinney, and the Scottish Government are the third part of the PNBS.
“If it transpires that they’re not going to fund it, then it’s a slap in the face for police officers.”
Kennedy added that if the staff side does not receive an answer within seven days, it will be registering a ‘failure to agree’ and seeking a ruling through arbitration.
A Scottish Government spokesperson told 1919: “As ministers have said previously, the World Cup bank holiday is an opportunity for people to come together and celebrate this historic moment for Scotland.
“The Official Side of the Police Negotiating Board for Scotland is still considering, and no final decision has yet been agreed.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson added: “No decision has been taken regarding the public holiday, and we remain in discussion with the Scottish Government.”
While all NHS staff in Scotland are entitled to the day off regardless of which health board they work for, councils across Scotland are taking their own decisions.
Only five councils – Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow, North Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire – have so far confirmed staff will get the public holiday.