Usdaw invite MSPs to early Hogmanay Party at Holyrood

Usdaw is inviting Scottish MSPs to an early Hogmanay party to remind them that retail workers will have their traditional holiday ruined if big stores are allowed to open on New Year’s Day.

Scotland's biggest retail union are inviting MSPs from across the political spectrum to attend the Hogmanay party on Wednesday 15 November to seek their support for a new bill that will ban big stores from opening on New Year's Day.

Usdaw is backing the bill because it believes it would make sure that shopworkers can spend Hogmanay with their families rather than behind the tills.

"This is a chance for MSPs to sample a traditional Hogmanay party with all the trimmings which would be denied to our members if big stores are allowed to open their doors on New Year's Day," says Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett. "Our members are telling us loud and clear that if big stores do open their doors on New Years Day then they will have to scale down their celebrations to make sure they are fit for work.

"Our members have been lobbying their MSPs to support this bill because it will ensure that Hogmanay remains a time for families to get together for a meal on New Year's Day which is a tradition Scots have enjoyed for centuries.

"We've already got solid support from many MSPs who appreciate that Hogmanay needs to remain a special day during the festive season. This party will be a timely reminder of the significance this bill has to thousands of retail staff across Scotland who want to have some much needed time with their families in what is already the most deregulated retail environment in Europe."

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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