Stewart Forrest – Usdaw’s Scottish Divisional Officer says: “We thank the Committee for their support for our petition and for helping to get a commitment from the Scottish Government to make progress. It has been thirteen years since the Parliament passed the Act that requires a consultation, so this is long overdue.
 
“Our shopworkers deserve a decent break over the festive period, as key workers delivering the essential service of keeping the nation fed. They have worked long hours in difficult circumstances throughout the pandemic, faced unprecedented levels of abuse and worried every working day about catching the virus and taking it home to their families.
 
“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 progressing the call for a proper festive break. Hogmanay and New Year is a special holiday, but this is not reflected in the experience of many retail workers, with three-quarters saying they spend too little time with friends and family.
 
“We look forward to engaging with the Minister, on behalf of Scotland’s retail workers, and the Scottish Government taking the next step by opening the necessary consultation on New Year’s Day closing. We note that the committee invited us to resubmit the petition if insufficient progress is made and rest assured we will.”
 
Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with over 400,000 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.
 
PE01780: Consultation on the closure of large shops on New Year's Day: https://www.parliament.scot/GettingInvolved/Petitions/newyearsday
 
Usdaw survey of over 1,000 Scottish retail staff, found that:

• 98% say that stores should be shut on New Year’s Day
• Three-quarters feel they spend too little time with friends and family over New Year.
• Only 4% are happy to work on New Year’s Day or 2 January.

The full survey results can be viewed at: www.usdaw.org.uk/NYDSurvey
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion