While a clause in the contracts of Sarnian workers means that they are entitled to an extra day off in lieu of Liberation Day on 9 May – which this year falls on a Saturday – Jersey public-sector workers are not.
The contracts of all Guernsey public-sector employees – about 5,000 in total – state that if a bank holiday falls on a non-working day, such as a weekend, they can have an extra day off. But as the day in lieu has to be taken after the bank holiday, it means they cannot take their day on Friday 8 May. This clause does not exist in the contracts of Jersey’s public-sector workers.
A spokesman for the Chief Minister’s Department said: ‘Jersey’s public-sector contracts of employment do not have a specific provision for Liberation Day as a public holiday.
‘In practice, this means that Jersey’s workers are treated in exactly the same way as the rest of the Island’s workforce.’
A statement issued by Guernsey’s Public Sector Remuneration Committee said: ‘While the greater number of employees work Monday to Friday and have Saturdays and Sundays as days off, a significant minority regularly work on Saturdays and Sundays and have days off on a weekday. Because of this, in general, terms of employment provide that if a public holiday falls on an employee’s day off, the day is treated as a public holiday and an alternative day off is provided.
‘This arrangement applies every year in respect of all public holidays – it is simply that this year with Liberation Day the arrangement applies to more employees.’
The news emerged a week after States Members in Guernsey voted against giving all islanders an extra bank holiday on Friday 8 May.
Meanwhile, Jersey residents have yet to learn if 8 May will be deemed a bank holiday.
States Members are expected to debate a proposition lodged by Reform Jersey politician Deputy Sam Mézec on 10 March.
ISLANDERS should get an extra bank holiday this year because Liberation Day falls on a weekend, according to an online JEP poll.
A total of 477 people voted in our poll on the issue, with 71 per cent saying that ‘yes, 8 May should be a bank holiday this year’.
A total of 137 people, or 29 per cent, said ‘no’.
The proposal also caused much debate on the JEP’s Facebook page.
Richard Milner said: ‘No. May the 9th it is. May the 9th it should remain. Don’t even contemplate devaluing this day. Don’t relegate it to just another bank holiday with no special meaning.’
Paul Noel, however, did not agree and said 2015 should be an exception. ‘I think this year it should be a bank holiday as it is the 70th anniversary and it may be the last big celebration for all the local people that were here during the Occupation of our nice quiet Island,’ he said.
‘Being it is such a big anniversary it would be nice to hear from the States on the events that are going on before 9 May so people could plan ahead of time.’
Commenting on the poll result, Deputy Mézec said: ‘It just shows how important Islanders consider Liberation Day. Hopefully States Members will respect the strength of feeling there is out there and make their decision accordingly.’
Joyce Le Ruez spent her late teens oppressed by German rule and lived, as most Islanders did, a frugal existence.
She recorded and sketched the daily experiences of life during the Occupation in a diary which she made public in 2011.
She risked punishment for keeping the record and had to hide it under the carpet on the stairs.
Joyce was 18 when the Germans invaded Jersey. She grew up on a farm in St Peter surrounded by a large family – four girls and four boys.
Where were you on 9 May?
‘I was working in a lawyer’s office in Hill Street and we went to the Royal Square. We were thrilled to see the hoisting of the Union Jack over the States Building. The day before, on VE Day, we had heard Winston Churchill’s statement about the surrender: “Our dear Channel Islands are also to be freed today.”
”There were Union Jacks and decorations flying everywhere – so different to nearly five years before when they had the Swastika flying over Jersey.
‘I remember seeing Germans going past us. Instead of arms, they had brooms, because they had to start cleaning up.’
Can you remember how you felt on that day?
‘Great joy and relief.’
‘Nan and I and Bert and Joan were waiting in the Square where there was a huge crowd of people expecting to see the British Colonel. Nobody knew anything definite as to what was really going to happen.’
What does Liberation Day mean to you?
‘It’s marvellous really. I don’t suppose anyone really knows what it was like unless you have experienced five years in isolation and under the enemy. The isolation had been pretty awful, you couldn’t communicate with relatives around the world. I did feel that my youth was lost.’
Miss Le Ruez’s diary has remained private for more than 60 years. Here are just a few extracts:
August 4 1941: Weather very wintry. Bank Holiday. Last night a German woke us up at 2.30 am to ask the way to St Ouen’s Manor. Laurie showed him. Incidents elsewhere. (Found out later that German troops had been sent on route march to get them so tired that they would offer no resistance when put on boats for Russian front – some got lost and entered private houses).
24 October 1941: Weather fine. Kath’s birthday. RAF over last night. Saw two flares and heard anti-aircraft. Bombs dropped near Oaklands, St Saviour. Damage to property. German plane believed to have crashed. (Believed to be British bomb rack shot off and bombs dropped accidentally, or Belgian pilot in distress.)
April 18 1942: A little foggy. Tokyo bombed by Americans. We have not heard about Uncle Edward again, but he was arrested by the Germans for having cartridges in his house. Mother is rather anxious, as we have heard he is in prison.
26 September 1942: Weather not so wet. Order on E.P. about evacuation. People are now told to be on Weighbridge at 2 o’clock to leave for Germany on Tuesday. We have not lost hope yet that something may prevent it. The Germans cannot kill the British spirit. One couple announced that their honeymoon is being spent on the continent!
10 December 1942: Weather stormy. My 21st birthday. I did not expect seeing that there is nothing in the shops. More robberies.
27 April 1943: Dry but cold and windy. Feeling more thoroughly sick of occupation than ever. Everything is most depressing locally.
27 August 1943: Showery, unsettled. Six suicides among Germans here – one who was ordered to Russia cut his throat while sitting out with girl near bathing pool, another gassed himself, one supposed to have put a hand grenade under his bed, another shot himself. Interpreter from College House supposed to be one of them.
January 1944: In this New Year we are full of hope and confidence that hostilities will end and peace will return. Also the reunion of so many who have been separated for so long. At the same time we almost fear what is coming because it is this year that the great invasion is expected. We long for it, but dread it.
6 September 1944: Stormy and dull. Saw part of 16-page petition from the States to German Commandant re shortage of food, medical supplies, soap and fuel. Position very serious. Germans responsible.
9 May 1945: Great day in Jersey. Went to see ship come in with British troops. Several Jerseymen among them. Hampshire Regiment. Great welcome to them. Great day for us.
