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Network Journal 2008 Issue 3 May/June |
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ADM 2008: Too many trading hours
The UK’s retail free-for-all came under fire during the debate on trading hours as a number of branches called for the convenience sector to be brought under tighter control.
Bernadette Connor (Midcounties Co-op) said that since the big players had moved into the sector more and more members are having to work during the festive period. "We want the union to extend its campaign on Christmas Day to our members who work in the thousands of convenience sector stores across the country," she said.
"Our members deserve as a matter of right to have at least one day a year that they can depend on to spend with their families. Let's face it no-one will die if they don't have their paxo or cranberry sauce on Christmas Day."
Meanwhile David Chadwick (Yorkshire Morrisons) called for the union to press the Government to abolish the size criteria for stores that trade on Sunday. "Give members in the convenience sector the same rights as those in the supermarkets," he said. "Too many staff are working 10-12 hour shifts in the small stores."
He also called for factories and distribution staff, allied to the retail trade, to have the same opt out facilities as retail staff.
Simon Wright (leicester Central) wants to see the retail sector's trading hours restricted on bank holidays. "If all the shops are forced to close we won't get any arguments about customer demand or 'we are only opening because the other stores are'," he said. "The rest of Europe isn't like us, trading 24/7, 365 days a year."
Other delegates who joined the debate were; Eileen Beswetherick, Olwen Jones, Stephen O'Connor, Tina Martin, and Amy Douglas.
General secretary John Hannett said: "This debate is very important to all of us and it is one where we have to get our tactics and strategy right. We don't want to give the de-regulators another chance to extend trading hours by opening up the debate in parliament.
"If the Tories were to get back into power they would go for full deregulation. So while we agree with the principles behind these propositions it is more important for us to take it up with employers.
"We now live in a 24 hour society where our members are put under a lot of pressure to work unsocial hours.
"We will continue to push the Government for more access to flexible working and to highlight the option of opting out for retail Sunday workers because our members deserve time off with their families."
www.usdaw.org.uk/campaigns
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