Woodstock observed Juneteenth on June 20 instead of June 19 this year.
Until this year, Woodstock’s unions for the town employees had not negotiated the federal holiday observance of Juneteenth marking the end of slavery on June 19.
It was not on the list of approved town holidays.
One union, the Communications Workers of America (CWA), doesn’t have a ratified contract. This year, Juneteenth was only celebrated because of a “handshake agreement,” town supervisor Bill McKenna said.
Some responded to a town Facebook post by calling the change of day “tone deaf” and claiming that it was just a bunch of white people wanting a three-day weekend.
“Uhhh … did you all miss the memo on what June 19th is actually about? Who made this decision?” asked one commenter.
“The holiday’s name, first used in the 1890s, is a portmanteau of the words ‘June’ and ‘nineteenth,’ referring to June 19, 1865. June 19th is a federal holiday! June 20th is a vacation day, and the town leadership should be ashamed,” said another, ever eager to provide instruction.
Another commenter defended the decision.
“Are you guys seriously upset about them giving themselves a day off on one day instead of another? It’s still a day off,” that commenter said. “How on earth could it possibly affect you? Good grief, get a grip. You’ve got too much time on your hands. Hospitals all were open both days. Get over yourselves.”
While all the other collective bargaining units agreed this year to add Juneteenth to the list of holidays, McKenna said nothing had been decided about how to handle the holiday for 2025.
“It dawned on me Monday at about 3 a.m. that Juneteenth would be an issue,” McKenna said. “We decided Friday would be a better day. It’s typically a slower day. It was not a slight.”
Essential departments like the police get holiday pay, McKenna said.
“From now on, Juneteenth will be observed June 19,” he said. “If anything, it comforts me that this is what people are complaining about, so I guess things are going well.”
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