Labour councillors in Sunderland have set out plans to pay tribute to the efforts and sacrifices of key workers in the city.
The proposed motion includes an annual Key Worker Day and an extra day of annual leave for council staff in recognition of those that kept the country going during the Covid pandemic.
It will also seek to encourage other public sector bodies and employers of key works to follow suit by embracing Key Worker Day and providing their key workers with an extra day of annual leave to show their gratitude for their efforts.
The motion will be proposed by Sunderland Labour councillor for Washington East, Sean Laws, at a full council meeting on Wednesday 13 September.
Cllr Laws said: “The country’s response to and recovery from the Covid pandemic were only possible thanks to the courageous actions, and sadly in some cases sacrifice, of Key Workers in areas such as health and social care, education, food retail, key public services, local government and many more.
“The impact of the virus was truly heart wrenching, with the number of deaths caused by the virus now approaching 200,000, more than 1270 of those people sadly from Sunderland. But that impact could have been so much worse had it not been for the selfless key workers who kept the country going.
“We clapped for them during the pandemic as a gesture of gratitude and to maintain morale, but we always knew that we had to recognise the sacrifice with something tangible, we believe that there should be an ongoing show of support for the tireless work they do for our communities.”
If approved, the proposals state the council will “take a proactive approach” to ensure key workers are not forgotten.
Actions include promoting the notion of an annual Key Worker Day in Sunderland; discussing with trade unions an appropriate date for the first annual Key Worker Day to be held no later than 31st March 2024; and consulting via the Budget-setting process, on the introduction of an additional day of annual leave for Council staff from the 2024/25 financial year.
Cllr Laws added: “The proposed motion has already received backing from my Labour colleagues and I urge members across the chamber – from all parties – to back this motion and show their support to the key workers in our city.”