Media Release: National Distribution Union
Wednesday December 9, 2009. 

Retail workers thrilled with Easter Trading vote

Retail workers will be thrilled by tonight's defeat of a bill which would have made it harder for them to spend Easter with their families, the National Distribution Union (NDU) said tonight.

Parliament has tonight voted down another attempt to open shops at Easter.  Todd McClay’s bill was lost by 59 votes to 62.

Retail worker Margaret Dornan, who is Vice President of the NDU, said she was pleased with the decision that the majority of MPs had made tonight.

“I think it has sunk home to MPs that families are more important than shops opening, and that community should come before commerce,” she said.

NDU Acting General Secretary Karl Andersen said he hoped that tonight’s vote would finally see an end to constant attempts by various Parliamentarians to liberalise shop trading.

"270,000 retail workers can rest assured that their Easter holiday is safe," he said.

“Shops are open 361 and ½ days a year and most shop workers could be required to work on any of these days.  Tonight’s vote protects the remaining 3 and ½ days for retail workers to spend some time with their families.”

Ends.

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