Voluntary New Years Day code is unworkable

Campaigning union Usdaw is concerned about a proposal that does not guarantee shopworkers a day off on New Year's Day in Scotland.

Usdaw is fully supporting legislation to ban larger stores opening on Christmas Day and New Year's Day in Scotland - giving workers the guarantee of at least two days to spend at home with their families.

These welcome proposals are contained in the Private Member's Bill of Karen Whitefield, Labour MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, which is now going through the Scottish Parliament. The next stage in the Bill's progress - public consultation - begins shortly.

Over the Bank Holiday weekend (2nd May), the Scottish Retail Consortium chose to issue a press statement suggesting that retailers could instead sign up to a statement that gives their workers the right to turn down the opportunity to work on New Year's Day.

"If and when SRC members open on New Year's Day in the future, it will be recommended that they sign up to this statement," said the SRC.

But Sir Bill Connor, Usdaw General Secretary, expressed his concern about this proposed voluntary agreement. He said: "In the initial honeymoon period, a voluntary code applies but this is soon followed by compulsory and contractual obligation.

"Voluntary agreements do not offer any formal guarantees to hard-working staff who simply want a few days to spend at home with their families. Shopworkers want an absolute and legally-backed guarantee that they will not be forced to work on Christmas Day nor New Year's Day in Scotland.

"There is going to be full consultation on Karen Whitefield's proposals. All ideas will be taken on board and discussed during this consultation phase."

Karen Whitefield's proposals apply only to Scotland. Usdaw is also supporting a Private Member's Bill of Kevan Jones, Labour MP for Durham North, which is seeking to ban larger stores opening in England and Wales on Christmas Day. Kevan Jones' Bill passed its second reading in the House of Commons in March.

Notes to Editors

• Usdaw is the UK's fifth largest union, with over 330,000 members. More details about Usdaw's Protect Christmas Day and New Year's Day in Scotland campaign is available online.

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