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Sunday trading to be voted on by all MPs - the Government now has time to reconsider says Usdaw

Date: 25 February 2016 Shopworkers’ trade union leader John Hannett has called on the Government to halt their proposed changes to Sunday trading, after today’s committee session passed the amendment and added it to the Enterprise Bill.

The proposal to devolve Sunday trading is now expected to be put to a vote of all MPs during the Enterprise Bill’s Report Stage on 8 or 9 March.

John Hannett – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Devolution of Sunday trading to over 300 local councils is the nightmare option that will strangle business in red tape, burden local councils, confuse customers about when shops are open and reduce valuable time shopworkers have with their families as shops open longer on Sundays.

“It is very disappointing that Government hasn’t published detailed assessments of the impact of creating over 300 different Sunday trading regimes across the UK, each with options for different trading hours in different zones at different times of the year. Devolution is quite frankly unwanted and unworkable.

“So, I hope they will take the time before the vote of all MPs to reconsider and decide not to proceed until they have published in full an up-to-date independent investigation into the impact on business, families, communities and shopworkers.

“The current Sunday trading rules are a fair compromise, which has worked well for over 20 years, and gives everyone a little bit of what they want. Retailers can trade, customers can shop, staff can work; whilst Sunday remains a special day, different to other days, and shopworkers can spend some time with their family.”

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 440,000 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 retail staff: http://usd.aw/SundaySurveyReport

Devolving Sunday trading rules – BIS response: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/devolving-sunday-trading-rules

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