Stewart Forrest – Usdaw’s Scottish Divisional Officer says: “We welcome the committee’s support for our petition and share their frustration that the Scottish Government continues to say ‘now is not the time to consult’. It has been thirteen years since the Parliament passed the Act that requires a consultation. On that basis, it begs the question when would Ministers say the right time is?
“If ever there was a year when our shopworkers deserved a decent break over the festive period, it is this year. They are key workers delivering the essential service of keeping the nation fed. They have worked long hours in difficult circumstances throughout the pandemic, faced unprecedented levels of abuse and worried every working day about catching the virus and taking it home to their family.
“The very least that key workers in retail can expect is that the Scottish Government shows their appreciation for the essential work they’ve done through this appalling pandemic by progressing the call for a New Year break.
“Hogmanay and New Year is a special holiday, but this is not reflected in the experience of many retail workers, with three-quarters saying they spend too little time with friends and family. On behalf of Scotland’s retail workers, we are urging the Scottish Government to open that consultation and for MSPs to listen to shopworkers’ concerns about their work and life balance.”
What shopworkers say:
- “You're tired from working and don't really relax or enjoy the limited time you get with the kids. Then you start all over again working New Year’s Day too!!!”
- “As a store manager I have had to work Christmas and New Year. A lot of hard work goes into the weeks leading up. By Christmas Day you are exhausted and then back to work on Boxing Day. This year I also have to work New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and on the second.”
- “I am not happy working till 1930 on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. By 4pm our store was fairly empty.”
- “Finishing times on Christmas Eve and Hogmanay are creeping up later, which has a severe impact on family life for retail workers.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with over 400,000 members. Membership has increased by more than one-third over the last couple of decades. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
PE01780: Consultation on the closure of large shops on New Year's Day: https://www.parliament.scot/GettingInvolved/Petitions/newyearsday
Usdaw survey of over 1,000 Scottish retail staff, found that:
98% say that stores should be shut on New Year’s Day
- Three-quarters feel they spend too little time with friends and family over New Year.
- Only 4% are happy to work on New Year’s Day or 2 January.
- The full survey results can be viewed at: www.usdaw.org.uk/NYDSurvey
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter
@UsdawUnion