Retail trade union Usdaw and trade body Retail NI have both come out against Belfast City Council’s proposals on extended Sunday trading hours in the city.
The union says it is disappointed that the council is again consulting on extending Sunday trading hours, instead of engaging in an industrial strategy for the retail sector that involves local and national government, retailers, workers and their trade union, along with all key stakeholders working together. Usdaw will respond to the consultation, which opens today and closes on 14 May, by re-emphasising the union’s emphatic ‘no’ to longer Sunday trading hours.
Joanne Thomas – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Usdaw is disappointed that the issue of extended Sunday trading hours in Belfast is yet again being discussed by the City Council. This was reviewed last year, 2024, 2020, 2017 and numerous times before that. On all of those occasions, it was determined that such an extension is not the right move. Usdaw has repeatedly fully committed to working with Belfast City Council and others to support and improve the retail experience at the weekend and for tourists. Repeatedly considering extending Sunday trading hours is a distraction from tackling the real issues that impact the retail sector.
“Our members remain opposed to extending Sunday trading hours. Allowing large stores to open for longer on Sundays would have a negative impact on retail workers, their families and our communities. Longer Sunday trading would take a heavy toll on staff who would come under even more pressure to work, when they would rather be spending time with family and engaging in community, sports and leisure activities or attending church.
“There would also be a detrimental impact on smaller retailers who can already open longer hours on Sundays. These traders rely on the boost in trade they get on Sunday morning, with St George’s Market being a prime example. Even supporters of extended Sunday opening hours have not been able to show it will lead to economic benefits or job creation. Put simply, opening shops for longer does not mean people have more money to spend.
“We all want to see a strong and diverse retail sector in Belfast and across the nation, but that means striking the right balance. We urge City Councillors to listen to the majority of shop workers and retailers who do not want extended Sunday trading.”
If the trade union’s opposition to opening up Sunday trading hours is understandable, Retail NI’s is a bit more surprising.
Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said:
“To completely deregulate Sunday trading and create another normal shopping day shows a poverty of ambition and ideas for the city. It is an idea that belongs to the past and not to a modern progressive 21st century City”.
“We need new thinking to animate Sunday mornings and offer shoppers and visitors something different. This proposal will provide large multinationals with even more trading time, directly at the expense of small independent retailers who use trading time on Sunday mornings to sustain their business.”