Unions oppose relaxation of Sunday trading rules
Unions representing shop workers have condemned reports that the government is planning to completely deregulate Sunday trading laws. Responding to newspaper reports earlier this month, retail union Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis said a move to deregulate Sunday trading hours “would come across as an opportunistic use of the coronavirus crisis and a slap in the face for each and every worker in retail and the food supply chain”.
Unite said the move would be “grossly unfair” to key workers and would ignore the childcare challenges many face.
“Retail workers have played a key frontline role in keeping the UK fed and supplied in the last three months in highly challenging circumstances,” said Unite national officer Bev Clarkson. “They are exhausted and deserve to spend time with their families. Extending opening hours will simply exacerbate these problems.”
She said extending Sunday opening hours would create more stress and make it impossible for many workers to juggle work and caring.