Scottish Labour Party backs for bill banning stores from opening on xmas

Retail union Usdaw has welcomed strong backing from the Scottish Labour Party for a bill that will stop big stores opening their doors on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Delegates to the Scottish Labour Party conference in Oban unanimously backed an Usdaw emergency resolution reaffirming support for a bill sponsored by MSP Karen Whitefield banning big stores from opening Christmas Day and New Year's Day which has passed its first stage at Holyrood.

"Usdaw members across Scotland will welcome this support for a bill which has attracted the support of most Labour MSPs at Holyrood," says Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett. "Thousands of Usdaw members have written to their MSPs supporting this bill that will make sure they can have a proper work/life balance during the festive period without harming the Scottish economy or the tourist industry.

"It's a major milestone to get this support from the Scottish Labour Party because it now becomes party policy and it proves that the simple democratic act of writing to MSPs and lobbying them can have an impact.

"This bill is popular with shopworkers and shoppers alike because it maintains Hogmanay as a traditional Scottish holiday while making sure retail staff can spend New Year's Day with their families which is where they belong.

"Usdaw will keep the pressure on to make sure that wrecking amendments from opponents of the bill are defeated and the festive period has two days where retail staff can relax in what is the busiest period for stores across Scotland".

Notes to Editors:

• Contacts for newsdesks: Usdaw's Media Officer, Paul Clarke, can be contacted on 0161 249 2469 or e-mail paul.clarke@usdaw.org.uk.
• Usdaw (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union, with over 340,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
• 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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