The survey was conducted ahead of a debate in the House of Commons, next Monday 12 December, prompted by several petitions with hundreds of thousands of signatures. The Westminster Hall debate will be lead by Helen Jones MP, Chair of the Petitions Committee, and reflects concerns about the growth in the number of stores opening on 26 December.
Usdaw’s survey also shows that now just over 40% of shopworkers are expected to go to work on Boxing Day and a quarter worked that bank holiday last year and will do again this year.
John Hannett – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Usdaw welcomes the debate generated by the huge petitions opposing Boxing Day trading. There are clearly more stores opening and some start trading so early in the morning that it inevitably has a big impact on people’s Christmas Day celebrations.
“Staff in retail work very long hours in the run-up to Christmas. Our members tell us that they need time off to recuperate as well as to spend time with their family and friends. That is particularly important when they have children for whom Christmas is such a special time.
“Usdaw is seeking the longest possible break for retail staff over the Christmas and New Year period, to provide shopworkers with a breather during this very busy time. Usdaw won the campaign for legislation to stop large stores from opening on Christmas Day and we are calling for small stores to follow suit and stay shut. We are also calling for shops to be closed on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day; as well as early closing by 4pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
“Usdaw is not currently campaigning for any changes in shop trading hours legislation, in fact we have been busy defending the existing restrictions against deregulation. However, we welcome the debate this petition is generating and look forward to hearing what MPs have to say about the growing trend towards Boxing Day becoming a normal shopping day just like any other.”
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