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Victory in sight for shopworkers Protect Christmas Day campaign
05 December 2003
Shopworkers' fears of being forced to work on Christmas Day by Scrooge bosses could be a thing of the past within months after a major boost to a campaign waged by their trade union, Usdaw.
The name of Kevan Jones, MP for Durham North, was yesterday drawn at sixth of 20 MPs to be allowed to introduce Private Members' Bills during the 2003-04 session of Parliament - and he immediately declared his intention to use the opportunity to support Usdaw's Christmas campaign.
He will introduce a Bill to ban stores larger than 280 square metres (about the size of a tennis court) from opening on Christmas Day. An anomaly in the Sunday Trading Act 1994 only bans such larger stores from opening on December 25th if it falls on a Sunday.
Although not many larger stores have opened on Christmas Day in the past, shopworkers genuinely fear that it is only a matter of time before it becomes commonplace - and that, as there would not be enough volunteers to work, many would be forced to do so.
Usdaw General Secretary Sir Bill Connor praised Kevan Jones for his support. He said today: "This is fantastic news for Usdaw members who work extremely hard and under great pressure in the run up to Christmas. Legislation is essential to prevent large stores opening and guarantee that shopworkers can spend Christmas Day with their families."
A public consultation was launched by the Government in April 2003 on proposed new regulation of Christmas Day trading, through which 97 per cent of respondents supported keeping Christmas Day special and agreed that large shops should remain closed. Kevan Jones' Private Member's Bill now gives MPs the opportunity to pass legislation backing such overwhelming public opinion.
Notes
- Kevan Jones' Bill correcting the anomaly in the Sunday Trading Act 1994 will not extend to Scotland, as the Sunday Trading Act only applies to England and Wales. Usdaw is seeking to get a similar Private Member's Bill introduced in the Scottish Parliament, so that Scottish shopworkers can enjoy the same protection.
- With over 330,000 members, Usdaw is the fifth largest trade union in the UK.
- Further background information on Usdaw's Protect Christmas Day campaign is available at the Santa Watch campaign section.
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