Usdaw members across Scotland delighted as they get early Christmas present

Usdaw members across Scotland are celebrating an early Christmas present after MSPs overwhelmingly agreed the first stage of a bill that will force large stores to close on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Thousands of Usdaw members who work in shops had written to their MSPs urging them to support a bill that will give shopworkers two guaranteed days off in the most deregulated shopping environment in Europe.

Usdaw members reminded MSPs that Hogmanay is traditionally a time for families and if big stores opened their doors on New Year’s Day it would mean centuries of tradition would be swept away as shopworkers would have to curtail their celebrations.

“Usdaw members across Scotland have lobbied hard for this bill and they are delighted that MSPs have decided to support them,” says Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett. “The Bill has passed its first hurdle and we will continue to keep the pressure on. Opponents of the bill argued there was no popular support for giving shopworkers some respite during the festive season, but our members and their families have been vindicated by this vote.

“Our members are deeply grateful to Labour MSP Karen Whitefleld who has done a brilliant job taking this bill through that will give shopworkers the chance of a proper work/life balance during the festive season without damaging the Scottish economy or hurting the tourist trade.

“This has been a long, hard road for our members but it is refreshing to know that the simple act of writing letters to their elected representatives does work and I’m grateful for their efforts.

“Retailers have lost nothing because stores rarely opened on those days anyway but making sure we keep Christmas Day and New Year’s Day special for future generations of shopworkers means the efforts of our members has resulted in a victory for common sense.”

Notes to Editors:

• 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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