2.9) Shopping Hours in Focus
Usdaw and its predecessors have campaigned hard and long to cut the hours of shop assistants and prevent their exploitation.
In 1946 the then Labour Government established a Committee of Inquiry to examine shop opening hours and conditions and make recommendations for change. Included in Usdaw's submission wascompulsory 6 pm closing with one late night at 7 pm. The Committee recommended 7 pm closing and 8 pm for the late night.
When the 1950 Shops Act was introduced neither recommendation was included. Compulsory closing remained at 8 pm with 9 pm as the one late night, with local authorities given the power to vary the orders. The Act also forbade Sunday trading in general, though there were certain exemptions.
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