All three have previously called on the City Council to engage in an industrial strategy for the retail sector that involves local and national government, retailers, workers and their trade union, along with all key stakeholders working together. That has not happened and, in fact, there has been no prior discussion with Usdaw, the ICTU or Retail NI prior to the proposed Sunday Trading pilot scheme being put before councillors.
Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Usdaw is disappointed to hear that the issue of extended Sunday trading hours in Belfast is again being discussed by the City Council. This was reviewed in 2020, 2017 and numerous times before that. On all of those occasions, it was determined that such an extension is not the right move. In 2020, Usdaw fully committed to working with Belfast City Council and others to support and improve the retail experience at the weekend and for tourists. Repeatedly considering extending Sunday trading hours is a distraction from tackling the real issues that impact the retail sector.
“Our members remain totally opposed to extending Sunday trading hours. Allowing large stores to open for longer hours on Sundays would have a negative impact on retail workers, their families and our communities. Longer Sunday trading would take a heavy toll on staff who would come under even more pressure to work, when they would rather be spending time with family and engaging in community, sports and leisure activities or attending church. Furthermore, it is disappointing that a full council vote on these proposals, which would be significantly detrimental to retail workers, is scheduled to take place just three days after the Northern Ireland Assembly set out proposals on the forthcoming ‘Good Jobs’ Employment Rights Bill.
“Even supporters of extended Sunday opening hours have not been able to show it will lead to economic benefits or job creation. Put simply, opening shops for longer does not mean people have more money to spend. We all want to see a strong and diverse retail sector in Belfast and across the nation, but that means striking the right balance. We urge City Councillors to listen to the majority of shop workers and retailers who do not want extended Sunday trading.”
Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said: “To completely deregulate Sunday trading and create another normal shopping day shows a poverty of ambition. We need new thinking to animate Sunday morning and offer shoppers and visitors something different. This proposal will provide large multinationals with even more trading time, directly at the expense of small independent retailers who use trading time on Sunday morning to sustain their business.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and the UK's fifth biggest trade union with around 360,000 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 www.usdaw.org.uk
Retail NI represents the Retail Industry in Northern Ireland, advocating for independent retailers, suppliers and wholesalers and driving tangible change in critical policy areas like planning, rate reform, and high street regeneration. https://retailni.com/
Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) is the largest civil society organisation on the island of Ireland, representing and campaigning on behalf of some 800,000 working people. There are currently 44 unions affiliated to Congress, north and south of the border https://www.ictu.ie/
Retail is the largest sector of employment in Northern Ireland with 131,200 staff, around 15% of all employment. Usdaw has members working in some of the biggest retailers in Northern Ireland, including Tesco, Sainsbury's/Argos, Co-op, Primark, Poundland and Asda.
For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Bluesky @usdawunion.bsky.social and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion