Mark Griffin MSP (Labour, Central Scotland) will ask in tomorrow’s Scottish Parliament First Minister’s Questions: “To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will require large retail stores to close on New Year’s Day 2022 so that retail workers can spend the day with their loved ones.”
 
Tracy Gilbert – Usdaw’s Scottish Regional Secretary says: “It was deeply disappointing that the Scottish Government refused to enact powers given to them, in the Christmas Day and New Year’s Day Trading Act (Scotland) Act, to stop the opening of large stores on 1 January. We simply don’t believe they listened to the 98% of Scottish shopworkers who want stores to close.
 
“That decision was a kick in the teeth for retail staff who have worked throughout the pandemic, faced unprecedented levels of abuse and are now dealing with very busy run up to the festive season. We hope this question will prompt the First Minister to rethink and give the nation’s shopworkers a break.
 
“Our survey found that 98% of retails workers wanted stores to be shut on New Year’s Day, three-quarters said they spent too little time with friends and family, and working over New Year affected their ability to enjoy the holidays.
 
“The very least that key workers in retail can expect is that the Scottish Government shows their appreciation for the essential work they’ve done through this appalling pandemic by giving them a proper festive break.”
 
Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with over 370,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades.
 
Usdaw New Year's Day Survey of 1,473 Scottish members found:
· 98% agree that stores in Scotland should close on New Year's Day.
· 79% are not happy to work on New Year's Day or 2 January.
· 74% said they spend too little time with their loved ones over New Year.
· 72% reported their store being fairly or very quiet on New Year's Day.
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion