Usdaw calls on SNP to back bill to keep Hogmanay special

Usdaw members across Scotland are lobbying SNP MSPs to back a bill that will help keep Hogmanay special by stopping big stores opening on New Year’s Day.

The bill to stop big stores opening on Christmas Day and New Year's Day comes before the Scottish Parliament on 22 November and Usdaw members are writing to their MSPs urging them to support a bill that will protect Hogmanay's unique place in Scottish culture.

"Hogmanay is something that Scots have celebrated for centuries and this bill will make sure that Usdaw members can enjoy those traditional celebrations with their families." says Usdaw Scottish Divisional Officer Bruce Fraser. "We're calling on the SNP who make much of their role in protecting our nation's heritage to support this bill and make sure Usdaw members can enjoy this uniquely Scottish holiday with their loved ones.

"Our members are telling us loud and clear that if big stores are allowed to open on New Year's Day they will have to scale down their Hogmanay celebrations so they are rested for work. They are also deeply distressed that they won't be able to enjoy their traditional New Year's Day family meals.

"Usdaw is concerned that if big shops do open on New Year's Day then the Hogmanay experience will be diluted for tourists who flock into Scotland and it may hurt our tourist industry.

"The bill has strong support from MSPs across the political spectrum at Holyrood and our members want the SNP to show they really value our traditions by backing a bill that will protect our heritage for future generations of Scottish shopworkers."

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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