Rejection for Sunday trading scheme
Plans reported by The Times newspaper to relax Sunday trading laws for a year to stimulate a recovery in the retail sector have been criticised as “misguided” by the main union in the sector.
According to the paper, the proposed scheme would remove the six-hour restriction on Sunday opening for larger stores and supermarkets.
Paddy Lillis, general secretary of shopworkers' union Usdaw, responded: “While we appreciate the desire to help the retail sector, this attempt to undo a long-held and respected compromise on Sunday trading is misguided. The last thing the retail industry needs is longer trading hours, there is no economic case for this and it will put extra pressure on the retail workers who have worked so hard throughout this crisis.
“Our members in retail are working long hours, in difficult circumstances and under a great deal of pressure, they need a break. It isn’t too much to ask for a shorter day on Sundays. Deregulating trading hours will put more pressure on shopworkers to work longer and cause further problems with finding childcare.”
Usdaw’s position was backed by postal workers’ union the CWU, which tweeted “USDAW members have helped to keep this country running during the coronavirus crisis. They deserve better than a deregulation of Sunday Trading hours”. the Association of Convenience Stores pointed out that changing the laws would only displace trade away from local shops that have played an important role in the pandemic.