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Hewitt urges retailers do not open your large stores on Christmas Day
22 December 2003
Shopworkers' union Usdaw has received a huge vote of confidence for its Protect Christmas Day campaign. Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt today urged retailers not to wait for expected changes in regulation - and to close all bigger outlets on Christmas Day this year.
In advance of anticipated new regulations, which should be in place for Christmas 2004, Patricia Hewitt said: "We can't change the law in time for this Christmas, but we hope to change the law in time for next year in relation to large stores opening on Christmas Day.
"I hope that major retailers will continue to observe the spirit of Christmas Day before the law is changed. Even the actions of one or two retailers could have wide-ranging consequences for shopworkers this Christmas. We live in a multi-cultural, multi-faith society, but Christmas Day remains a special day for most UK citizens, either for religious or family reasons.
"We want to preserve the special nature of this day and stop it becoming the first day of the sales. Shopworkers deserve a day with their families this Christmas."
Patricia Hewitt's comments are welcomed by Usdaw, the UK's fifth largest trade union, with almost a third of a million members. The union has long waged a campaign to ban larger stores (those bigger than 3,000 square feet) from opening on Christmas Day. Usdaw General Secretary Sir Bill Connor said today: "Shopworkers must be allowed to spend Christmas Day at home with their families. There is overwhelming public and political support for new legislation."
Kevan Jones, the Labour MP for Durham North, has a Private Members' Bill before the House of Commons, due to get its first reading on 7th January 2004. This will force retailers not to open larger stores on Christmas Day in England and Wales.
Karen Whitefield, Labour MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, has a Private Members' Bill before the Scottish Parliament. This seeks to ban larger stores from opening on Christmas Day and New Year's Day in Scotland. This Bill is soon to go to public consultation.
At present, the only legal protection given to Christmas Day occurs if it falls on a Sunday. In this case no stores larger than 3,000 square feet can open in England and Wales. But there is no protection if it falls on any other day. In Scotland, there is no protection for 25th December at all.
Although not many larger stores have opened on Christmas Day in the past, shopworkers genuinely fear that it is only a matter of time before it becomes commonplace - and that, as there would not be enough volunteers, many shopworkers would be forced to work.
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