Speaking at the Trades Union Congress in Brighton, Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary said: “Everyone should be entitled to quality time off over the festive period, but all too often, retail, distribution and many other workers find themselves unable to take part in Christmas and New Year celebrations.
 
“Each year, by the time it gets to the holiday, many retail and distribution workers are worn out from weeks of build-up, extended opening hours and huge increases in workload in the run-up to Christmas. Weeks of dealing with frantic customers who are all too ready to take their frustrations out on staff who are already under significant pressure.
 
“By the time Christmas arrives too many workers are too exhausted to enjoy the holiday and while many people will be enjoying an extended break of a week or more off work, retail and distribution workers will often only get one day off squeezed between a late finish on Christmas Eve and an early start on Boxing Day. This situation is unfair and urgent action is needed.
 
“We are calling for stores to close early on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, and remain closed for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.”
 
Usdaw surveyed over 18,000 members to find out about their experiences of working over last year's festive period:

• Two thirds of respondents told us they are under pressure to work on Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
• 80% reported that they find it difficult to get an early finish on Christmas Eve.
• Three-quarters said working these days meant spending too little time with family and friends.

Paddy Lillis continued: “The comments we received from members made for heart breaking reading: The guilt of not being there at your child's first Christmas; Friction and breakdown in family relationships, and the impact all of this is having on mental, physical and emotional health.
 
We know this isn't just an issue for workers in retail and distribution and we have the utmost respect for vital public service workers who keep the lights on, the hospitals open and the country safe over the festive period; but beyond the incredible work of vital emergency services, is Christmas working really necessary?
 
“Since 2004, thanks to one of Usdaw's campaigns, large shops are already closed on Christmas Day. Boxing Day and New Year's sales no longer have the same significance due to the rise of all year round instore and online promotions and Spring, Summer, Autumn and pre-Christmas sales.In our survey, the majority of retail workers reported that stores are either fairly or very quiet on these days.
 
“As a society, we need to ask ourselves do we really need to have the shops open on Boxing Day and New Year's Day? We believe the shopping public would understand and support a trade union case for shops not to open on Boxing Day and New Year's Day to allow workers a proper break.”
 
Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 410,000 members. Membership has increased by more than one-third over the last couple of decades. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion