Retail trade union Usdaw has today (23 December) published a poll of over 7,000 of its members, which shows 97% are calling for large stores to be closed on Boxing Day.

“This would give staff a decent break over the festive period after a busy run-up to Christmas,” said the organisation.

Usdaw is now calling on retailers to close early on Christmas Eve and to keep stores shut until 27 December.

The union says that if stores do open, they should only be staffed with genuine volunteers on premium pay. Usdaw also asks shoppers to respect retail staff who often face violence, threats and abuse at work.

Joanne Thomas, Usdaw general secretary said: “Too many retail workers do not get a decent break over the Christmas and New Year period.

“After working so hard to ensure we can all get ready to celebrate, they can arrive home shattered and have to spend time on Christmas Day getting ready for work the next day. This is why 97% of retail workers want shops to shut on Boxing Day.”

When asked to describe the impact of working on Boxing Day, Retail workers who completed Usdaw’s festive working survey, said:

• Because staff numbers have been drastically cut this year, I am absolutely exhausted and will go to church in the morning then sleep on my one day off.
• Very taxing time of year, busy store, rude customers, shopping in the last fifteen minutes of the day, I want to go home to see my family!
• It spoils Christmas Day celebrations, especially when visiting family as you have to return home early to prepare for getting up for work.

Thomas added: “While Usdaw has successfully secured the closure of large stores on Christmas Day, the rest of the holiday season can see extended trading days for many. By the time retail workers get to Christmas Eve, they will have been through a very busy run-up to Christmas.

“Where we have agreements to negotiate with employers, we have reached national agreements for shops to be staffed with genuine volunteers only, and our workplace reps are supporting members to help make sure that happens at store level. We also send our appreciation to those workers behind the shopfront who have to work on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, not least in distribution, food and pharmaceutical manufacturing.”

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