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 Home Campaigns Scottish Christmas Day and New Years Day Trading Resources
Shopworkers ready to unwrap early Christmas present
14 October 2004
Friday October 15 looks set to be an historic milestone in shopworkers union Usdaw’s long running campaign to ensure large stores cannot open on December 25.
The Christmas Day (Trading) Bill, sponsored by Labour MP Kevan Jones, is expected to pass its final Commons stage tomorrow in time for this year's festive period. It will ban all shops of more than 280 square meters from opening on Christmas Day.
Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett said: "This new legislation will be greeted with a huge sigh of relief by millions of retail staff, who in the recent past were worried some retailers were looking to open on December 25.
"Our members can now rest assured they will be able to enjoy Christmas Day with their families and friends and take a well-earned rest after the hectic pre-Christmas rush.
"I'd like to thank Kevan Jones for all of his work in helping to deliver an early Christmas present to shopworkers across England and Wales."
Notes to Editors:
- Ten Usdaw members, dressed as Santa Claus, will be in the House of Commons to welcome the new law. They will meet at Parliament Square from 8am tomorrow and then move on to the Jubilee Room in Westminster.
- Usdaw (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth largest union, with over 338,000 members. Most Usdaw members are shopworkers, although the union does have many members in other trades including transport, distribution, call centres, home shopping, food manufacturing, dairy process, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
- All Usdaw news releases are available at our online Newsroom.
- Pictures (free of charge) will be available later in the day from Usdaw's Media and Communications department. Call 0161 249 2444 or e-mail arena@usdaw.org.uk.
- For more background information on Usdaw's Protect Christmas Day campaign is available at the Santa Watch campaign section.
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