John Hannett – Usdaw General Secretary says: “The retail industry is in uncertain times and there are companies that need assistance from the Government, to ensure they have a future and help save the high street. So we would welcome the opportunity to have a conversation with Ministers.

“However, additional Sunday trading hours is not the answer. The last thing that retailers want is increased overheads from longer opening hours, with no prospect of additional income through the tills. It’s simple economics, that makes retailers less profitable and more vulnerable.

“The question of Sunday trading was settled last month, when the House of Commons clearly rejected the Government’s reforms. Ministers should now focus on issues that will make a real difference to the retail industry.

“So let’s have a conversation about tackling crippling overheads, such as rates and rents; putting more money in customers pockets by reducing VAT, and raising the skills and incomes of shopworkers, as called for the British Retail Consortium in their report on the future of the industry.

“Retail is an important employment sector and a major contributor to the British economy, it deserves more attention and support from the Government.”

Notes for editors:

Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fourth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 430,000 members. Membership has increased by more than 17% in the last five years and by nearly a third in the last decade. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the Union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.

For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion