Campaigners want MPs to celebrate Christmas Day on 26th March

Shopworkers across England and Wales are today calling on MPs to back a crucial stage in their campaign to get a guaranteed day off on Christmas Day.

The leading retail trade union Usdaw is seeking MPs' support for legislation to ban larger stores from opening on any future 25th December.

Without legislation, retail workers genuinely fear it is only a matter of time before Christmas Day trading in big shops is commonplace - and that, in the clear absence of sufficient volunteers, many workers would be forced to come in.

Usdaw, the UK's fifth largest trade union, has waged a long campaign on behalf of its members for legislation to force big stores to close on Christmas Day, giving workers a guaranteed day off to spend this special day at home with their families.

The next and most crucial stage of the campaign takes place on 26th March 2004, with the second reading in the House of Commons of a Private Member's Bill to be moved by Kevan Jones, the Labour MP for Durham North. The Bill seeks to ban stores with a floorspace in excess of 280 square metres from opening on Christmas Day in England and Wales.

In December, Usdaw received a major boost to its campaign when Patricia Hewitt, the Trade and Industry Secretary, signalled clear Government support when she called on retail companies to observe a voluntary Christmas Day 2003 closure of larger stores, ahead of the introduction of legislation that would compel them to do so in future years.

Sir Bill Connor, Usdaw General Secretary, said: "Victory is clearly in our grasp. We have received widespread support, including Government backing, for this campaign. Now we must ensure that MPs attend the second reading of Kevan Jones' Bill on 26th March, and show their support for shopworkers who want to spend Christmas Day at home.

"Our members are being encouraged to contact their MP and request their attendance.

"Many people can't understand why retailers would want to open on Christmas Day, let alone why anyone seriously wants to shop on this day. The reality is very different. A recent survey of major retailers showed that while nearly all stay shut on Christmas Day, they would have to reconsider their position if one of their competitors broke ranks and chose to open."

• We need as many Usdaw members as possible to write to their MPs asking them to support the Early Day Motion, to be in the House of Commons when the Bill is being debated and to vote for the Bill.

You can find out who your MP is by:

• Visiting the House of Commons Constituency Locator at www.locata.co.uk/commons

• Telephoning 020 7219 3000 and asking for the Public Information Office.

• Asking at your local council offices or library.

Notes to Editors:

• Kevan Jones' Private Member's Bill applies only to England and Wales.

• The Christmas Day (Trading) Bill aims to close a discrepancy in the Sunday Trading Act 1994 which does ban stores with a floorspace of more than 280 square metres from opening on Christmas Day - but only if it falls on a Sunday. There is no protection if it falls Monday through Saturday.

• Labour MSP Karen Whitefield has introduced a Private Member's Bill to the Scottish Parliament seeking a ban on larger stores opening on Christmas Day and New Year's Day in Scotland.

• Background information and press releases on Usdaw's Protect Christmas Day campaign are available from the Santa Watch online campaign section.

• Usdaw is the UK's fifth largest trade union with over 330,000 members. More information and news releases are available at our online Newsroom.

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© 2003 (USDAW) Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
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