Parliament Workbench

Petition · PE01780 · Session 5

Consultation on the closure of large shops on New Year's Day

Closed Submitted 12 Dec 2019 Business & Industry
Signatures
0
2,040 online signatures with a country
Comments
188
Considered
4 meetings
in the Official Report

What it asks

Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to launch a consultation on implementing legislation already in place to ban large shops from opening on New Year’s Day.

What the petitioner did first

Usdaw has previously written to James Hepburn, Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills, asking that the Government launch a consultation on the issue.
The organisation has been advised that the Government does not intend to commission research into the impact of trading by large stores on New Year’s Day.

Where it was considered

Official Report
  1. 20 Feb 2020
    Public Petitions Committee
    New Petitions
    1 mention
  2. 8 Oct 2020
    Public Petitions Committee
    Continued Petitions
    1 mention
  3. 16 Dec 2020
    Public Petitions Committee
    Continued Petitions
    1 mention
  4. 10 Feb 2021
    Public Petitions Committee
    Continued Petitions
    1 mention

Signatures by country

2,040 online signatures
  1. Scotland1,408 69%
  2. United Kingdom575 28.2%
  3. England49 2.4%
  4. Northern Ireland2 0.1%
  5. Greece1 0%
  6. Netherlands1 0%
  7. New Zealand1 0%
  8. Wales1 0%
  9. Germany1 0%
  10. France1 0%

Comments

188 comments, oldest first
188 comments · showing 1–50
  1. Andrew Fraser 13 Dec 2019
    It is only fair
  2. Stuart hamilton 19 Dec 2019
    Supermarkets should be closed
  3. Mavis Chalmers 19 Dec 2019
    I work at leading supermarket and I should be spending it with friends and family. That should be a day off. We dont get double time either
  4. Scott King 19 Dec 2019
    I work in retail security for a leading supermarket and I have to work every xmas eve and boxing day and new year eve and Jan 1st and for the mim wage I agree and believe all shops should close on boxing day and new year day give people time to relax with family and friends and enjoy it.
  5. David Swankie 19 Dec 2019
    Working on this day should never happen
  6. ALLAN J Hogg 19 Dec 2019
    Rediculous no shop should be open on new years day. Our world has officially been diagnosed with craziness and pure greed. This goes for shopping centres as well! Edinburgh centres are just as bad...ie ocean terminal ..Cameron toll...and gyle to name but a few...stay closed money isn't everything for goodness sake!!!!
  7. Kevin fraser 19 Dec 2019
    I would love to get January 1st off work so getting a petition out there is a good idea
  8. Brian Wardlaw 19 Dec 2019
    This needs to happen
  9. Stewart forrest 19 Dec 2019
    Retail workers work hard they deserve to celebrate nerday the same as the rest of us
  10. Caroline Downie 19 Dec 2019
    I think all shops should be closed
  11. Richie Venton 19 Dec 2019
    345,000 retail workers in Scotland have families too! As do associated production and distribution workers. We deserve a proper break to spend time with family and friends. There is no earthly reason why the profit-driven consumer frenzy can't be shut down on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, 1st and 2nd January, so the Scottish government should step up in defense of workers and ensure this happens. 'Gis a break!!
  12. Brian Lynch 19 Dec 2019
    We should be closed 25 , 26 December also.
  13. Margaret Donnelly 19 Dec 2019
    All staff should get a chance to enjoy there time with kids and family
  14. Marion Jo-Anne Hope 19 Dec 2019
    I think it's a disgrace that businesses are open on New year's Day this comes down to greed from the company's that are making their staff work. Maybe try making it compulsory for triple time if the businessess are open new year's Day then see how many want to open.
  15. Michael peat 19 Dec 2019
    With no public transport available i need to pay premium taxi fares or rely on family members to get me to and from work.
  16. kayleigh young 19 Dec 2019
    more time with families over the festive period
  17. Joanne Meil 19 Dec 2019
    I agree that workers should have a day of rest on New Years Day. I am working all through NY this year and will have to reframe from drinking and having a late night, whilst everyone else is enjoying themselves.
  18. Joanne Meil 19 Dec 2019
    I am working all through New Year and will have to reframe from staying up late or drinking. Will affect visiting family and friends also.
  19. Fiona maxwell 19 Dec 2019
    No before time!
  20. John marley 19 Dec 2019
    We should not be open new year's day
  21. Shirley Drummond 19 Dec 2019
    Retail workers deserve to have holidays especially at Christmas and New Year. There is no need for large retailers to open other than greed.
  22. Linda Clark 19 Dec 2019
    Shops should be shut on New Years Day as there is no need for them to be open
  23. paul kernachan 19 Dec 2019
    Look at the distribution sites to and get them closed absolutely disgusting for these business to make staff work make time for the families
  24. Sheila Holmes 19 Dec 2019
    If we have to work should get well paid for it
  25. christina hill 19 Dec 2019
    Boxing day she also be a holiday
  26. John nicol 19 Dec 2019
    Think its disgusting that you have to use one of your normal day's off as a holiday for Christmas day thought this was a bank holiday and yes totally agree no one should be working 25th 26th dec 1st and 2nd January
  27. Clare mcintyre 19 Dec 2019
    Boxing day aswell should be a holiday for retail workers. It all comes from companies being greedy. Family should come first!
  28. Neil MacDonald 19 Dec 2019
    MSPs, please show some consideration, before condemning this. Retail workers work extremely long hours over the festive period, with little, no premium pay, many have no quality time to spend with family,friends. Also it's a chance to review or instil a Sunday trading working time directive, at present the working week is bordering on Dickensian
  29. Andy Irvine 19 Dec 2019
    1st & 2nd are holidays in Scotland, retailers should treat them as such.
  30. Andy Irvine 19 Dec 2019
    1st & 2nd are holidays in Scotland, retailers should treat them as such.

    If the government want people to work on these days I look forward to seeing government departments open on these days too.
  31. Gwen Riggans 19 Dec 2019
    Not just large stores but all stores including convenience stores
  32. david paton 19 Dec 2019
    how many times are we going round this roundabout time for usdaw to put there foot down 79% saying close 1and 2 january and back members comments
  33. frank whitelaw 19 Dec 2019
    Keep campaigning Stewart. Merry Xmas to all in the Division.
  34. linda Tait 19 Dec 2019
    I think New Year and boxing day should be closed to let families be together in past decades it worked why not now in modern society.
  35. Marc lammie 19 Dec 2019
    Boxing day should be the same no need for all these shops to be open its nothing but pure greed everybody should be able to spend time with there families during the holiday season .
  36. Jayne Hastings 19 Dec 2019
    This should include our petrol filling station! Oh yes the store will be closed, but no they are once again opening the pfs probably to sell 3 pints of milk. 2 human beings not being able to relax through this period in the year! Shocking!
  37. aileen whitelaw 19 Dec 2019
    All shops should close over the xmas period , each and every one has family and that's what xmas is all about not money in the tills . What did everyone do in the olden days when shops were closed .its about time something was done not just in Scotland
  38. aileen whitelaw 19 Dec 2019
    All shops should close over the xmas period , each and every one has family and that's what xmas is all about not money in the tills . What did everyone do in the olden days when shops were closed .its about time something was done not just in Scotland
  39. Jamie begbie 19 Dec 2019
    As I work in retail I see it first hand. Bosses bullying young people to work Xmas eve, boxing day etc.. I think there should be a balance so family time can be enjoyable and not worrying about then there next in work
  40. Kelly Maitland 19 Dec 2019
    I was forced to work new years day so am signing the petion
  41. Frank McElroy 19 Dec 2019
    Family should have time with family as work hard all year
  42. Salim Haddad 19 Dec 2019
    Would be nice to have New Year day off to get some rest after long year work only right after night of reflect on the year past by !!!??
  43. Janette Lahlou 19 Dec 2019
    The whole festive season should be a time for families to spend together. I have worked on previous new years day and it is literally customers looking for gravy granules or need more potatoes for their dinner. Why should we miss out in family time just for a slow string of people running in for last minute bits and Bob's.
  44. Joanne Campbell 19 Dec 2019
    I also think that all shops should be closed on Boxing Day, everyone should be able to enjoy Christmas.
  45. Ross Harper 19 Dec 2019
    Even if stores do open on New Year's Day, I feel that the pay rate should be higher than on Bank Holidays outside the festive period, and that opening hours should be the same as those operated by large stores in the other UK nations on Sundays. I also feel the same should be the case on 26th December. Considering these opening hours apply in Liverpool, Aberystwyth and Belfast for over 50 days per year, it is not unreasonable for such a restriction to apply in Livingston, Aberdeen and Bellshill for TWO days per year.
  46. Elizabeth Wilkie 19 Dec 2019
    It is unfair to keep people from their families. Time is prestiius
  47. Miss Yvonne S Doyle 19 Dec 2019
    Everyone should be permitted to spend time off from work on New Years day, not only for family time but for a rest to recuperate for the New Year 2020, that is fast approaching.
    This should be passed as a new law.
    Yvonne S Doyle.
  48. Kim Gibson 19 Dec 2019
    Well done Usdaw. Good call and about time x
  49. Tracy Brown 19 Dec 2019
    Boxing Day too please?
  50. Alan Bowes 19 Dec 2019
    The first, second and boxing day should be family time