Usdaw delighted as over 300 MPs say 'no' to extending Sunday trading hours

Save Our Sundays

Retail union Usdaw says more than 300 MPs indicating support for an Early Day Motion opposing any extension of Sunday trading hours is another massive body blow for supporters of deregulation.

So far 273 MPs from across the political spectrum have signed the motion, sponsored by Brian Jenkins MP, opposing any extension to the present six hour limit that large stores can open on Sundays.

The union has also received more than 30 messages of support from Ministers and ministerial aides who cannot sign the EDM due to a longstanding parliamentary convention forbidding them to so.

“Britain's 3.1 million retail workers now have the support of nearly half of all MPs and it's good news that senior ministers are also opposed to extending the hours,” said Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett. “Over half of Labour's MPs are supporting our campaign, as well as strong support from the two main opposition parties and a number of other smaller parties.

“But we're not complacent as this battle still has some way to go so we're continuing our high profile Save Our Sundays campaign sending postcards and petitions to MPs. Thousands of concerned shopworkers have written to their MPs reminding them of the devastating impact longer hours would have on the family lives of retail staff. This level of support proves MPs do listen to their constituents.

“We've been reminding MPs that 64% of Britain's shoppers are also opposed to any further extension of the hours and 150 hours a week shopping is quite enough even for the most hardened consumer.”

Usdaw played a leading role in an open forum organised by the Department of Trade and Industry - who will make the final decision - reminding ministers of the almost total opposition of retail staff to extending shopping hours.

“We surveyed over 4,000 of our members finding 94% of them are opposed to longer opening hours on Sunday because it is often the one day in the busy retail week they can spend quality time with their families,” John Hannett said. “All we want is for our members to have a decent work/life balance and we told ministers in very clear terms that extending Sunday trading hours would wreck the family lives of our members.

“Leading Labour backbencher Andrew Smith led an adjournment debate at Westminster where a number of MPs expressed their strong opposition to extending Sunday trading hours. This is yet another clear signal to Ministers that they need to think again about changing the present sensible limit which has worked well for shoppers, shopworkers and retailers.”

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.

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© 2003 (USDAW) Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
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