USDAW is 'disappointed' Belfast City Council is discussing extended Sunday opening 'yet again'
A trade union representing retail workers has once again emphatically opposed proposals by Belfast City Council to extend Sunday trading hours.
USDAW (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) says its member are "overwhelmingly" opposed to the idea, which it says has been brought up "numerous times" before.
Union members would rather be spending time with family and engaging in community, sports and leisure activities or attending church, it said.
USDAW official Liam English will be giving evidence on the matter to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of Belfast City Council tomorrow (Friday 22 May) in City Hall, along with Retail NI, which also opposes the move.
Belfast City Council launched a consultation on having the city designated as a holiday resort, which would allow for extended Sunday opening hours from March to September.
The council had approved the measures for last summer, only for them to collapse at the last minute when Sinn Fein performed a U-turn - joining the DUP, SDLP and Greens in opposing the idea.
Tourism authorities say it would make Belfast more competitive and be better for tourists arriving on cruise ships who are surprised by lack of Sunday opening.
However USDAW has repeatedly fought against the move.
In a recent survey of over 200 members, USDAW said 82% in the Belfast area viewed the extended Sunday trading as negative, with 76% of working parents and carers saying it would negatively impact their family life.
Usdaw General Secretary, Joanne Thomas, said: “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, in 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.”
The union has repeatedly committed itself to work with the council to improve the weekend retail experience, she said.
“Continually considering extending Sunday trading hours is a distraction from tackling the real issues that impact the retail sector.
“Our members remain overwhelmingly 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."
She said the council should also consider the "huge increases" in violence suffered by retail workers in recent years when proposing to extend the number of hours per week they would have to face such abuse.
Ms Thomas said the move would also impact negatively on smaller retailers which can already open for longer hours on Sunday, and which rely on this boost in trade - one example being St George's Market.
"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."
A spokesperson for Belfast City Council responded that councillors will meet on Friday 22 May to discuss the results of the public consultation on the proposals.