Union seeks ban on Christmas opening

Union leaders want Christmas Day to be special

Union leaders are lobbying the government to restrict shops opening on Christmas Day.

Shopworkers' union Usdaw has submitted a 20,000-signature petition to demand that shops over 3,000 square feet be prevented by law from opening on Christmas Day.

Officials also want new legislation to ensure that smaller shops have the written consent of all those volunteering to work.

Sainsbury's and Woolworths have three stores each trading on Christmas Day, with the Co-operative Wholesale Society and Budgens opening more, say Usdaw.

Our decision to open three stores is in recognition that we live in an increasingly multi-cultural society

Ken Lewis
Woolworths

And Usdaw leaders say some groups have made their workers feel obliged to volunteer for Christmas duty.

There is currently no law to prevent stores opening for as long as they like on Christmas Day, officials say.

Usdaw General Secretary Bill Connor said: "Shopworkers need at least one day off over the Christmas period.

"It is a frantic time of year for shops and most staff are prevented from booking any holidays between mid-November and mid-January."

Usdaw insist there has been a trend towards shops opening on holidays and Sundays, with decreasing premiums for workers.

We know from bitter experience that people are coerced into working

Barry Allen
Usdaw

The Usdaw petition was put to parliament by union member Nigel Griffiths MP, who has tabled an early day motion signed by dozens of MPs.

And the union wants a private members' bill put before parliament in this session or government legislation after the next general election to safeguard workers.

Usdaw spokesman Barry Allen denied that workers were always volunteers.

"We know from bitter experience that people are coerced into working these hours, probably not in bigger supermarket chains but in smaller outlets.

"What we are concerned about is major supermarkets following the trend."

Forecourt experiment

Woolworths commercial and marketing director Ken Lewis said: "Our decision to open three stores is in recognition that we live in an increasingly multi-cultural society.

"The stores that are opening serve a diverse local community - all colleagues who are working in these stores are volunteers."

A spokeswoman for Sainsbury's said the group was opening three small outlets attached to petrol station forecourts as an experiment.

An Asda spokesperson said there were no plans to open stores on Christmas Day.

"It is a very important time for families and for friends - our staff work tremendously hard and we give them at least two days off."