Usdaw welcomes MSPs’ report backing festive shutdown for large stores

Retail union Usdaw has welcomed a report by MSPs backing a new bill that aims to stop large stores from opening their doors on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Thousands of Usdaw members have been lobbying their MSPs to back the bill put forward by Labour backbencher Karen Whitefield which is now being backed by the Justice 2 Committee who voted in favour of plans to keep those days special.

"Usdaw members across Scotland are delighted they've won the support of the influential Justice 2 Committee who have very carefully analysed all the evidence from both sides of this debate," says Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett. "We made a very strong submission to the committee that allowing big stores to open their doors on those days would ruin the festive season for our members and would undermine the traditional Hogmanay family celebrations shopworkers have enjoyed for generations.

"Some members of the committee suggested that there was no strong evidence that this bill would protect shopworkers from being forced to work on those days but our members are telling us loud and clear that the opposite is true.

"They are worried they would have to work on those days and that would further erode precious family time in what is already the most deregulated retail environment in Europe.

"This is a victory for common sense and our members will continue to lobby MSPs from across the political spectrum to make sure they are fully aware of the huge support for this bill from shoppers and shopworkers in their constituencies."

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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