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Warm words from the Government are not enough to give shopworkers a proper break at Christmas

Date: 13 December 2016 Shopworkers’ trade union leader John Hannett has expressed disappointment that the Government has turned their backs on retail staff working on Boxing Day, despite their warm words and claims to understand the pressure they come under.
The House of Commons debate was prompted by several petitions with hundreds of thousands of signatures and was led by Helen Jones MP, Chair of the Petitions Committee. MPs reflected public concerns about the growth in the number of stores opening on 26 December and the impact that has on staff and wider society. A recent Usdaw survey found that 93% of retail staff do not want to be in work on Boxing Day.

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. Our members will be heartened to hear the concerns of MPs, but disappointed that the Government flatly refused to entertain legislation or even look for an alternative measure to allow staff to have a proper break over the Christmas period.

“Staff in retail work very long hours in the run-up to Christmas. Many are now working later on Christmas Eve and are expected to be in early on Boxing Day, which clearly restricts Christmas Day celebrations. Our members tell us that they need time off to recuperate as well as to spend time with their family and friends.  That is especially important when they have children for whom Christmas is such a special time.

“We welcomed the Labour frontbench commitment, from Bill Esterson MP, to legislate for an opt-out on Boxing Day working and move to a ban on large shops opening if that doesn’t provide shopworkers with the break they need.

“In Usdaw’s recent survey, 78% of shopworkers told us that staff in their store are put under pressure to work on this important bank holiday, which tells us that Boxing Day trading is having a real impact on family life. It is often difficult for retail staff to book the day off work, our survey also found that around 60% cannot or are extremely unlikely to be able to book Boxing Day as a holiday.

“It is important that we get the balance right on shop trading hours; so that retailers can trade, customers can shop, staff can work and shopworkers can spend some time with their family over the Christmas and New Year period. Shopworkers need action, not warm words, as retailers move towards longer and longer Boxing Day opening.”

What shopworkers have told us about working on Boxing Day:
  • “I usually end up working both Boxing Day and Christmas Eve so Christmas for me is just 1 day where I spend all my time cooking not relaxing and unable to spend quality time with my elderly father.”
  • “I've got a little girl and these early years are such a magical time for her I feel that I miss out on her enthusiasm and wonder by having to work over Christmas.”
  • “I am at work till 5pm Christmas Eve then back in at 7am Boxing Day. All my family live away and as we are not allowed holidays Christmas week I will not see them until after New Year.”
  • “I was made to bank days for the company meaning I only get Christmas Day off, same for New Year. I will work 6 days both weeks and spend no time with my family, as I will need to sleep to gain energy back for the following working week.”
  • “I asked for time off for Xmas eve and Boxing Day and it is constantly met with ‘you know you’re not allowed time off for Christmas’.”
  • “There is no public transport so I have to rely on family members not to have a drink so they can take me into work the next day and I am unable to go to any family events.”
  • “The pressure put onto staff to work during the Christmas period is intense, we need time away from the business to celebrate and relax.”
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.
 
Usdaw survey of Boxing Day working in retail – headline results
 
3,738 members working in retail in England and Wales responded to the survey on 7th December 2016: 
  • 41.5% of respondents will work this Boxing Day, 25% worked on Boxing Day last year as well. 
  • 93% said they were not happy to be in work on Boxing Day. Only 1.5% of respondents said they were happy to work on Boxing Day, a further 5.5% said they didn’t mind. 
  • 78% of respondents said that staff in their workplace were put under pressure to work on Boxing Day. 
  • Only a minority of staff can take the day off on Boxing Day if they wish.If staff request NOT to work on Boxing Day it is always agreed in only 4.5% of workplaces and usually agreed in a further 36.5%. In 36% of workplaces it is not usually agreed. In 7% of workplaces it is never agreed and a further 16% say they do not bother asking because it would not be agreed.
For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion
 

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