Ruth Maguire MSP was among a number of parliamentarians who gave their support to USDAW’s campaign to end New Year’s Day trading in large stores.
The shopworker’s trade union delivered over 3,000 postcards to Holyrood, urging the Scottish Government to implement existing legislation which would fully enact The Christmas Day and New Year’s Day Trading Act (Scotland) Act 2007.
The union have also launched a petition on the Scottish Parliament website calling for the Government to open a consultation on the possibility of banning large stores from opening on 1 January.
Ruth Maguire MSP for Cunninghame South said: “I’m fully supportive of USDAW’s campaign. People who work in the retail sector face challenging conditions in the lead up to the festive period, it’s only right that they should be able to fully enjoy a public holiday following Hogmanay to recuperate for the new year.”
Stewart Forrest – USDAW’s Scottish Divisional Officer says: “The strength of feeling among our members is clearly demonstrated by our survey and over 3,000 of them writing to their MSPs asking for support. Retail staff work incredibly hard all year round, but it is particularly busy and stressful throughout December. So they deserve to be able to spend time with family and friends, only 4% of Scottish retail workers are happy to work on New Year’s Day.
“Hogmanay and New Year is a special holiday, but this is not reflected in the experience of many retail workers. Under the Christmas Day and New Year’s Day Trading (Scotland) Act 2007 Scottish Ministers may, by statutory instrument, ban large shops from opening on New Year’s Day, subject to consultation.
“On behalf of Scotland’s retail workers, we are urging the Scottish Government to open that consultation and for MSPs to listen to shopworkers concerns about their work/life balance.”
Ruth Maguire MSP 