Council staff who worked through the peak of lockdown should be given an extra week’s holiday, it has been claimed.
Binmen, housing repair teams and school workers would receive seven days back in “recognition” for their efforts.
That’s if a proposal from South Ayrshire Council’s opposition Conservative group wins favour.
Their leader, Martin Dowey, insists rewarding the graft is the right thing to do.
He said: “Along with other key workers across the country, frontline council staff who have worked through the pandemic have played a huge part in keeping lifeline services running.
"They’ve made sure our bins are emptied, provided essential childcare cover, prepared our schools for reopening, helped with emergency housing repairs and with many other vital services."
New council leader, Peter Henderson (SNP), said this week he would “work with the staff to recognise their efforts”.
He told the Post: “People across South Ayrshire have at all levels gone above and beyond. Be this in the NHS, social care, supporting shielding, volunteering and many sectors demonstrating a willingness to pull together.
“I unreservedly thank and praise the efforts of council staff and going forward we will seek ways to show our thanks and gratitude.”
Cllr Henderson, who stressed South Ayrshire was not seeking redundancies and had kept staff on full pay, added: “I note that the Conservative government have no plans or additional funding to be given to local authorities or employers providing additional paid annual leave.
“The council workforce has received public praise and thanks for their efforts and I do not wish that rise in public standing to be jeopardised, as such we will look to work with the staff to recognise their efforts.”
