Debenhams staff feeling blue-and-cross over New Years Day working

Ahead of the formal launch today (Monday) of consultation on proposals to ban large stores in Scotland from opening on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, campaigners from shopworkers' trade union Usdaw - many dressed as Santa Claus - will be drumming up support outside Debenhams in Edinburgh.

Debenhams became the first retailer in Scotland to break with tradition by opening two big stores on 1 January 2004 (Edinburgh and Glasgow). Usdaw understands the same stores will open on New Year's Day 2005, as well as Debenhams stores in Dundee, East Kilbride and Inverness. The decision has angered many Debenhams workers, who have now joined Usdaw.

From midday, Usdaw will be outside the Debenhams store in Princes Street to collect signatures on a petition calling for all stores larger than 3,000 square feet to be prohibited from opening on Christmas Day and New Year's Day in Scotland. This would give shopworkers the right to enjoy both days at home with their families, without the fear of being forced to work.

The group of campaigners will be joined by Karen Whitefield, the Labour MSP for Airdrie & Shotts, who later (at 2:30pm, in the press room - P102 - of the Scottish Parliament), will formally launch the consultation on her proposal to introduce legislation that would ban stores with a sales area larger than 3,000 square feet from opening in Scotland on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Also in attendance to support the launch of the consultation will be Bruce Fraser, Usdaw's Scottish Divisional Officer, and the Rev. Robbie Hamilton, who is the minister of Karen Whitefield's own local church, New Wellwynd Parish Church in Airdrie.

Bruce Fraser said: "Most people can't believe that retailers wish to open on Christmas Day or New Year's Day in Scotland, but the reality is different. Usdaw fears that more retailers might soon follow the lead of Debenhams. The Christmas season is by far the busiest time of the year for shopworkers. They deserve and should be guaranteed at least two days that they can spend at home with their families. It is not much to ask in the modern days of 24/7 retailing."

Karen Whitefield said: "I am pleased to be able to begin the consultation for my proposed bill to prevent trading in large retail outlets on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. I firmly believe that we, in Scotland, should protect the special nature of these public holidays. I also believe that those shopworkers who work tirelessly throughout the year deserve the right to spend these two important days at home with their family."

Notes to Editors:

1. Photo/filming and interview opportunities are available on Monday 1 November 2004 at:

• 12 noon - Outside Debenhams in Princes Street, Edinburgh. Usdaw campaigners will joined by Karen Whitefield MSP to collect signatures on a petition calling for large stores in Scotland to be banned from opening on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

• 2:30pm - Press Room (P102) of the Scottish Parliament. The formal launch of the consultation on MSP Karen Whitefield's proposal to introduce legislation that would ban large stores in Scotland from opening on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

2. Shopworkers in England and Wales are guaranteed Christmas Day at home with their families, after the Christmas Day (Trading) Act became law in October 2004. However, this Act does not cover Scotland. There are no trading restrictions that cover Scotland, which means shops could open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

3. The consultation document on MSP Karen Whitefield's proposal to introduce legislation that would ban all stores larger than 3,000 square feet from opening in Scotland on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, can be downloaded at www.karenwhitefield.com/christmas.shtml or the Usdaw web site.

4. Usdaw (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's 5th biggest trade union, with over 339,000 members. Most Usdaw members are shopworkers.

• More information and news releases are available at our online Newsroom.

• Journalists can subscribe to receive Usdaw news releases via our online e-news service.

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