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Arena Magazine 2006 Issue 1 January February |
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Politicians join fight to protect Sundays
150 shopping hours a week – that’s more than enough, says Usdaw. The union’s campaign to stop large supermarkets opening for more hours on Sundays has attracted the support of more than 160 MPs from across the political divide.
Workers, not only in retail, could be faced with longer hours, with little or no premium pay, less time with their families and the loss of Sunday as the only 'different' day in the week.
Union reps across the UK are waking up to the fact that their cherished Sundays are under threat from some retailers who want complete deregulation of trading hours. Local MPs are also ready to back Usdaw's campaign which is out to stop Sunday becoming 'just' another day in the 24-hour UK shopping fest.
Weaver Vale MP Mike Hall is one of many backing Usdaw. "I opposed the introduction of Sunday trading in the first place," he said. "And I am absolutely against any extension of Sunday trading and any reduction in the conditions and pay of people who choose to work on a Sunday."
Tesco rep Audrey Padmore enlisted Mike's support after she and her colleagues collected 160 signatures on Usdaw's protect Sunday trading petition. "I visited Mike at one of his local surgeries and was encouraged by his response," said Audrey. "It's clear to me that staff do not want Sunday to become another 24-hour trading day."
Meanwhile at the Sainsbury's Alphington store in Exeter local reps Debbie Davidson and Heather Morris have had similar success and put their case to local MP Ben Bradshaw, who was in the store to meet members and canvass views on the issue. "Our petition had widespread support," said area organiser John Crick. "The reps have done a great job and Ben was left in no doubt as to our strong opposition to more Sunday trading."
Shout to the top
With 651 MPs in Westminster there is still plenty of scope to increase Usdaw's level of support in Parliament.
You can play your part by writing to your local MP and asking him/her to sign the early day motion, or to pledge their support to our campaign by signing our petition or issuing a statement opposing Sunday trading deregulation.
You can find your MP's details by visiting: www.parliament.uk/directories/directories.cfm. You can find out which MPs have signed the early day motion (no. 1085) by visiting: http://edmi.parliament.uk/edmi/.
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