Britains shoppers firmly reject extension of Sunday shopping hours

Nearly two-thirds of Britain’s shoppers have firmly rejected any extension of Sunday shopping hours for large stores in an independent survey for retail union Usdaw. The NOP survey found that 62% of shoppers didn’t want an extension of the six hours large stores are allowed to open on a Sunday.

“This survey proves that shoppers are perfectly happy with six hours shopping on a Sunday,” says Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett. “We commissioned this survey because we wanted to see whether shoppers have any real appetite for large stores to be open longer on a Sunday and clearly millions of consumers don’t want more hours.”

“This level of support proves that the compromise reached in 1994 that stores could open for six hours suits shoppers who already have 150 hours a week to spend their money and that consumers are not desperately looking for more hours to spend their money on a Sunday.

“We’re delighted that we’ve won the support of a big majority of shoppers because our members are telling us loud and clear they want the present arrangements to stay in place so they can spend at least some quality time with their families one day a week.”

The survey also found that 63% of consumers thought that Sunday should remain different to every other day and three quarters thought that if large shops were allowed to open all day on a Sunday it would make it like any other day of the week.

“This proves there is overwhelmingly support for keeping Sunday as a day for family and relaxation which is exactly what our members want in what is already a massively deregulated retail sector,” John Hannett said.

“Britain’s 2.7 million retail workers already work long hours and like nearly everyone else they want to spend at least some of their Sunday with their families so they can achieve a proper work/life balance.

“The reality is that if Sundays are deregulated then it will be treated as just another day and we are seriously concerned that the extra premium payments our members get for working unsocial hours on a Sunday will disappear.”

The survey results will now be submitted to Trade and Industry Secretary Alan Johnson as evidence for the DTI’s cost-benefit analysis on deregulating Sunday trading hours.

“We knew we had a good case to keep the present six hour limit but we wanted to show the Minister the cold hard facts that the British public back us too,” says John Hannett. “Usdaw believes in facts not emotion. We want the Minister to know that there is no popular support for extra shopping hours on Sundays. Our survey shows that shoppers don't want it because they want Sunday to remain different to every other day of the week. Shopworkers are telling us loud and clear they don't want it and we're not even sure a majority of retailers want it."

“Britain’s army of retail workers are grateful for this firm support for keeping Sunday trading as it is and so are their families who will benefit the most.”

Regional Breakdown

Region	Wanted 6 hours only Sunday opening	Wanted more than 6 hours Sunday opening
Tyne Tees	65%	33%
Granada	65%	33%
Yorkshire	61%	36%
Central	62%	33%
Harlech	66%	31%
Anglia	60%	39%
Carlton/LWT	60%	38%
Meridian	60%	39%
West Country TV	75%	22%

Notes to Editor:

• NOP surveyed 906 adults in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by telephone over 11 – 13 November 2005.

• Only around a third of people (35%) said they wanted shops to open for more than 6 hours.

• 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 341,000 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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