Even the Co-op has joined the rush to open its supermarkets on Sundays, its directors claiming they have to stand up to the competition. Sainsbury's, Tesco's, Safeways are all joining the law-busting rush.
While shop workers have long complained about Sunday opening, and the trend to longer opening hours on weekaays, many workers see 15 as d boon.
The reason is obvious. For the vast majority of workers, starting at 8.30am or 9am, and there are numerous difficulties or building society, and generally coping with the in creasing burden of household administration which workers face.
Office workers generally lunchtime, with offices near portunity to dash out and save some time. /ISDAW chief Garfield Davies Most manual and factory estates, don't have that luxury.
The problem tor tactory workers is worsened by the of overtime, with VIA HUMS days to make ends meet.
Thus it is easy for the big retailers to set workers interests against one anoster millions it appears obvious they should be able to go to the shops on a Sunday, and opponents Sunday opening seem olestonee religious nutters. hours worked by millions of workers in Britain.
Many white collar local So hour week fours de Lon don) or 36 hours (London). Lots of other clerical and administrative workers have a 35 hour week. Even if they total millions of workers, they are still the small minority.
Low-paid shop workers be asked to work astronomic hours to make it easier for others. Socialists should oppose Sunday opening in the present conditions.
This is particulalry true be cause of the changes which have taken place in retailing Shop-work has been massively casualised and de-skilled. Part-time and casual working is be coming the norm, making ficult. Pay rates are horrenCOUSY USDAW is notorious for its lack serious efforts at unionisation and figting on basic issues of pay and condiIn a socialist society the answer would be immediate shorter working hours for everyone, with a lot more free time to get on with living But even in the initial stages of a socialist society, the idea of one or two days a week where mos people didn't work is a good one. Shift workers know that having free time when all your No. 13
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