Give us a day off! 2,000 sign Liberation Day petition

Wednesday 11th February 2009, 2:59PM GMT.

mono-0560012_cropped.jpgMORE than 2,000 Channel Islanders have signed an online petition calling for a day off in lieu of Liberation Day.

They have joined the Facebook campaign to show their frustration at not being given an extra day’s holiday.

The issue has arisen because this year’s Liberation Day falls on a Saturday rather than a normal work day.
In the past two days alone, 200 Channel Islanders have added their names to the campaign. There is now a total of 2,102 names on the petition.

Some businesses have decided to give their employees a day off in lieu of Liberation Day, but many employers have not been so generous.

• Picture: Part of last year’s Liberation Day celebrations


Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post. Click here for subscription details. Individual editions are also available online.


  1. 1
    Mistershifter

    If a petition of nearly 16,000 votes is disregarded by the States (GST), I cannot see 2000 making a jot of difference!

    Sadly.

    It must be noted the number of people taking time to expressing their opinion in these polls is far greater than any of the Candidates received in the recent Elections.

    The people spoke and the States were deaf. No wonder there is voter apathy!

    Report abuse

  2. 2
    J.D.A

    I would just like to say what an utter disgrace it is for shops to even think about opening on such a day as Liberation Day. For goodness sake, it is a day to remember all the fallen people who helped liberate us. I have heard some people say I am not from Jersey so it does not bother me. What a disgraceful and utterly awful thing to not even show respect. I am a Jersey-born lady and am very grateful for having my beautiful Island to live in.

    Report abuse

  3. 3
    Jsy bean always..

    Well said J.D.A. But nothing suprises me anymore..

    Report abuse

  4. 4
    jsybean

    disgusting that liberation day in not a day off its part of our local history !
    whats next no extra days off at christmas if they fall on a sat or sun ??

    We should all stand together and boycot anyone how opens on liberation day or does not give and extra day off.

    Who will start the ball rolling Mario Lundy will you give the children and staff a day off on the monday are you brave enough ? I doubt it but if all the schools were shut then the parents would have to take the day off and so our liberation day would stay intact !

    I for one will not be working liberation I plan on taking the day off sick !

    Report abuse

  5. 5
    Jub

    J.D.A i think you have mis-read the article. They are not talking about getting the saturday off, they already have this off, the petition is aimed at getting a day in lieu (friday i assume) because liberation day falls on the saturday which is already a day off.

    Report abuse

  6. 6
    Boris

    There is a great deal of hypocrisy going on here. To start with we are in the midst of an horrific financial crisis and yet we expect employers to pay staff for an extra day off, how does that work? I would suggest that those working be thankful that they are still in a job.

    Secondly; most people on this island don’t use Liberation Day to honour those who fell in WWII they take a day off and stay at home or have a BBQ.

    Thirdly as other posts on this site have shown; there are many on this island who regard those who did actually suffer and help with the liberation of Jersey by the shedding of their blood and the murder of their civilian population with contempt happy to use their descendants as cheap imported labour to be used and discarded at will when times get hard. (‘Jobs for the Jersey Born first’ being a typical refrain).

    So lets not get all excited about Liberation Day falling at the weekend until we really honour those who fell in their millions and see the entire Island out remembering instead of getting drunk around a BBQ.

    Report abuse

  7. 7
    James

    Do people not have anything else to worry about? We’re lucky just to get the day as a holiday when it falls during the week. The UK doesn’t. Just be glad for the years when we do get the day off and accept that some years we don’t.
    Come to think of it if we’re going to waste time campaigning to get a day off, maybe us real Jersey beans should campaign that only we get Liberation day off? Of course we shouldn’t, because it’s just as ridiculous as the campaign by lazy people to get the day off.
    Thank God I’ve never had to live through something like the Occupation. I’m sure the people who did would have been relieved to survive it. They would have never thought that lazy people would be carping on about missing a day off so many years later. I agree with J.D.A. those people should be ashamed.

    Report abuse

  8. 8
    Walter

    Day Off In Lieu, what more do you all want?

    Have anyone of you opened your eyes and seen the economic climate? Just please don’t cry when you haven’t a job to go to, or expect the States to pay you as they have done for Wollies staff.

    Its all about take as much as I can get today and forget tomorrow. Time will tell.

    Report abuse

  9. 9
    joleb

    Can anyone tell me why civil servants are getting a day in lieu? How much is that costing us?

    Report abuse

  10. 10
    Finchos

    2,102 work shy people petitioning for a day off. I wonder how many of those 2,102 who signed the petition actually understand what the day is meant to represent, and also, how many actually take part/attend the annual Liberation Day celebrations. For those of you calling for a day in lieu, perhaps your employer should look at employing some of the 90 former Woolworth employees would love to have a job, and not complain about every 5 or 6 years losing a Liberation day holiday.

    Report abuse

  11. 11
    Michelle

    Well said to those people in respect of our special day! Is anyone else completely fed up with hearing all these whining, selfish shirkers moaning about not getting another day off?? Are these people so miserable in their jobs that they will campaign for one extra day off when they’re lucky to get two Bank Holidays in May anyway??!! Plus, these people are probably the ones who are being paid shed loads of money and getting 25 to 30 days holiday a year anyway! As for shops being open, it should not happen – have some respect for the meaning of Liberation Day!

    Report abuse

  12. 12
    C

    ive just found out my work are opening as normal on Liberation Day. I cant quite believe it. I dont care about the day in lieu, i wanted to attend the celebrations and services. but now i cant as i have to work.

    Cheers boss!

    Report abuse