With Labour already committed to oppose, Usdaw members will be focussing their attentions on the Liberal Democrats, who are split, on Conservative MPs who may rebel against the Government, and MPs from Scotland and Northern Ireland who should be concerned about the effects of extended Sunday trading in England and Wales on the pay of shopworkers in their constituencies.
John Hannett – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Devolution of Sunday trading to over 300 local councils is the nightmare option that will strangle retailers in red tape, burden local councils, confuse customers about when shops are open and reduce valuable time shopworkers have with their families as shops open longer on Sundays.
“Retailers have in the past reduced or removed Sunday premiums to offset the costs of opening stores for longer. If that happens again in UK-wide companies, we have no doubt that Scottish and Northern Irish shopworkers will pay the price of longer opening hours in England and Wales.
“The current Sunday trading rules are a fair compromise, which works well, is supported by a great majority of the public, and gives everyone a little bit of what they want. Retailers can trade, customers can shop, staff can work; whilst Sunday remains a special day, different to other days, and shopworkers can spend some time with their family.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fourth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 440,000 members. Membership has increased by more than 17% in the last five years and by nearly a third in the last decade. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the Union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
Usdaw survey of retail staff: http://usd.aw/SundaySurveyReport
Devolving Sunday trading rules – BIS response: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/devolving-sunday-trading-rules
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion