Walsall Council axes Christmas bank holiday break for staff

A three-day Christmas bank holiday break for thousands of council workers will be axed this year, bosses revealed today.

The move by Walsall Council means Sandwell will be the only authority in the region to allow the bonus day.

Workers in West Bromwich get Christmas Eve as well as the statutory days off, and Sandwell Council chief Darren Cooper said: "Council staff have had to deal with massive cuts over the last few months and I see no reason to take this day off them."

Walsall Council says it wants staff at work after the Christmas Day and Boxing Day bank holidays to keep services open for taxpayers.

The move comes after bank holiday Tuesdays in spring and summer were scrapped earlier this year.

Discussions are now taking place with staff.