Usdaw celebrates as 218 MPs sign up to Early Day Motion opposing extending Sunday shopping hours

Retail staff and their union Usdaw are celebrating after 218 MPs from across the political spectrum signed a parliamentary Early Day Motion opposing any extension of Sunday trading hours.

Current legislation allows large stores to open six hours on a Sunday but Usdaw is delighted that over two hundred backbenchers have signed up to oppose moves by some retailers to persuade the Government to allow them to open longer.

“This massive vote of confidence highlights that there is serious opposition in parliament to extending Sunday trading hours,” says Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett. “We didn't expect this huge level of support when Brian Jenkins MP kindly put the motion forward and it's pleasing to see MPs from all the parties represented at Westminster supporting our members.

“It also proves that MPs are very much in tune with the mood of the British public who have no appetite for any further deregulation of Sunday trading. We've done our homework commissioning an independent poll of Britain's shoppers and discovered 64% of them were happy with the existing six hour limit.”

Usdaw has briefed MPs at a specially convened cross-party meeting at Westminster where more than 40 MPs listened to speakers from a range of organisations opposed to extending Sunday trading hours including the Association of Convenience Stores, the Keep Sunday Special Campaign, the Relationships Foundation and the charity Working Families.

MPs also heard powerful testimony from Usdaw members who said their family lives would be devastated if the present six hour limit on big stores opening is lifted. Heather Morris, a shopworker from Exeter, made the case on behalf of million of retail staff.

“Three years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer so I know how dearly important families are,” Heather told MPs. “I know how important it is to spend time with them, create memories for our children and keep family traditions and family life alive for our children.

“We already have to work longer and longer hours on bank holidays so let us keep the little spare time we have in retail. Please give us guaranteed time with our families.

Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett was delighted with the positive response from MPs at the meeting.

“This was the launch of a coalition of groups who share common ground opposing any further erosion of family life on Sundays and to remind MPs that shopworkers have families too. We already have 150 hours a week to shop but the impact on the family life of our members would be absolutely devastating if Sunday trading was extended to 24 hours.

“The most powerful testimony came from two of our members who spoke eloquently of the real pressure shop staff are already under to work on Sundays and they made an incredibly powerful case to MPs that longer Sunday trading hours would make it impossible for them to have a proper work/life balance.”

Notes to Editors:

• To check if your MP has signed EDM 1085 go to http://edmi.parliament.uk/edmi/
• 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.

 Printer Friendly Page

 Email to a Friend

© 2003 (USDAW) Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
This page: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/politics/news/1142851942_975.html
Last Modified: Monday, 20-Mar-2006 22:30:10 EST
Proudly designed and programmed by Social Change Online
Site Credits