MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, has joined shopworkers’ leader John Hannett and a host of Santas at the Scottish Parliament to campaign to protect shopworkers’ Christmas and New Year.
McNeil Joins Usdaw’s Santas to Protect
Shopworkers’ Christmas
MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan
McNeil, has joined shopworkers’ leader John Hannett and a host of Santas at
the Scottish Parliament to campaign to protect shopworkers’ Christmas and New
Year.
Mr
McNeil is backing a Bill, promoted by Karen Whitefield MSP (LAB, Airdrie &
Shotts), which will ensure that large stores are kept closed on Christmas Day
and New Year’s Day. The Bill received overwhelming support from the public in a
consultation and is due to be published in January.
“I
am delighted to support this Bill and Usdaw’s campaign,” Mr McNeil said
today. “These are very special
days in our calendar and should remain special. I
have no doubt that, if large stores were able to open on December 25th
and January 1st, it would fundamentally change the nature of those
days and make them just like any other. I
think it is important that we retain collective days of celebration and rest.
“This
Bill would not only protect shopworkers, but also the many other workers who
would be forced to work if large stores were open – the bus and train drivers,
the street cleaners, the distribution workers, bank staff and everyone else who
provides essential support to retail activity.
“I
look forward to the Bill making its way through Parliament and I will be
encouraging as many of my colleagues as possible to support it”.
Usdaw
General Secretary, John Hannett:
“My
members and I very much welcome the support of Duncan McNeil. Christmas
and New Year are very busy times for shopworkers. Stores
can be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and very often are open on Christmas
and New Year’s Day and we just don’t think there is a business case for
opening their doors on those special days.
“We
asked our members if they supported this Bill and they told us overwhelmingly
that they wanted a break on those days. They
want a guaranteed day off to spend with their family, take a breather, or do
whatever they want to do. I think we can all identify with that.
“This
Bill is popular with shopworkers, shoppers and many retail companies support it,
because they know there has to be a limit. I hope that other MSPs will join
Duncan in supporting this Bill.”
ENDS
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