Trading Double Standards

Back in March I wrote a short blog (see here) on the impending changes to Sunday trading laws being introduced 'temporarily' for the Olympic games. I had an inkling at the time that these changes in law would stay and that Sunday trading laws would change permanently to satisfy the incessant need for profits. It seems I was correct according to this report from Sky News:

"Relaxed Sunday trading rules for the Olympics could pave the way for longer opening hours in future - despite assurances that would not be the case. MPs voted in favour of reducing the restrictions on large stores as a way of boosting the economy for seven weeks until after the Paralympics.

But now the Government has admitted it will consider just how successful the temporary relaxation has been - a move seen by many as a major breach of trust. As the rules usually stand, stores larger than 280sqm or 3000sqft can only open for six hours on Sundays at any time between 10am and 6pm. Owners who flout the rules could face a £50,000 fine. But for seven Sundays up until September 9, those shops can in theory trade 24/7.

The opportunity to open longer has been taken at Chapelfield Shopping Centre in Norwich. General manager Davina Tanner said: "Ultimately we're living in a world that's fast moving and for people to have more choice when they can shop on Sunday is a very positive thing." But what is good news for the big retailers is bad news for convenience stores.

Sales at the Stalham Shopper in North Norfolk have been down 20% on the past three Sundays. "We rely very much on our sales on Sunday," said owner Nigel Dowdney. "We open longer hours than Tesco do and it's a very important part of our earnings. Across my two stores I employ 42 people so that's 42 jobs that could be at risk."

Philip Browne, a menswear shop in Norwich, only trades for five hours on Sundays. If it was not for the pressure of competition, the owner says he would not open at all. "I really believe passionately that that day should be a day when people get together and spend the day together. The staff shouldn't be obliged to work within a seven day week," Mr Browne said. It is a view shared by the unions and the church.

But the Archdeacon of Norwich said concern over Sunday trading was about much more than people not coming to church. "It's about something much bigger than that," said The Venerable Jan McFarlane. "People need to have the chance to have time to reflect, relax and spend time with their family." But at Chapelfield most shoppers liked the idea.

"As long as it's helping people and keeping people in jobs and work and people making money, I think things could be relaxed a little," said Matthew Williams.
Busy teacher Hayley Reeve liked the idea of more chances to shop, but also had sympathy with the staff. "For the people who have to work, forcing them to have to do those hours as well, that's a bit unfair for them," she said."

Unfair is probably an understatement. This isn't about convenience, neither is stopping Sunday trading about religion, it is all about maximising profits for capitalism and especially the major corporations. Tesco and Morrisons and the rest don't give two figs for anything other than raking in profits, which is the real reason behind the proposed changes. The fall-out from the Olympics has started......

SussexSocialist