Campaign to protect Scotlands Christmas and New Years Day holidays

On Thursday 23 December 2004 at 10am, and just in time for Christmas, Scotland’s very own Santa will be joining Karen Whitefield MSP and Usdaw representatives at an Edinburgh Scotmid Co-op shop to campaign for the protection of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

The MSP (Labour, Airdrie & Shotts) is currently consulting on a proposal to ban large stores from opening on the two most important days in the Scottish calendar, and will be drumming up support at the Scotmid store in Duke Street from 10am. The proposal is backed by shopworkers’ union Usdaw and other retailers, including Scottish Midland Co-operative Society.

Karen Whitefield said: “I am delighted with the number of positive responses to my proposed Christmas and New Year’s Day Trading Bill. I have found members of the public to be very supportive when I have been campaigning on the streets. The early evidence shows quite clearly that the vast majority of people believe that shopworkers should be given these two special days to spend with friends and family.

“I am particularly pleased that retailers such as Scotmid are supporting the Bill. I am sure that by the end of the consultation period we will have a very firm basis on which to proceed with my Bill.”

Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett said: “We are aware that many retail employers would welcome legislation to stop large stores from opening on these important cultural days.

“But this proposal isn’t just about shopworkers and retailers. Christmas Day and New Year’s Day are special days for everyone in Scotland and the fact that shops do not open is an important part of making them special. They are largely collective days of rest.

“We want people to tell Karen, through her consultation, whether they want the special nature of these days to remain, or whether they want them to become like any other trading day, with shops open for business as usual.”

Notes to Editors:

• There will be an opportunity for photographs and interviews at the Scotmid Co-op Store, 76 Duke Street, Edinburgh, EH6 8HL, from 10am.

• The consultation has so far attracted almost 500 responses, the vast majority of which are in favour of the proposal.

• The consultation closes on Monday 7th February 2005, copies can be downloaded from www.karenwhitefield.com/christmas.shtml

• Usdaw is the UK’s fifth largest trade union with over 340,000 members. Most Usdaw members are shopworkers, although the union does have many members in other trades including transport, distribution, call centres, home shopping, food manufacturing, dairy process, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

• 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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