USDAW members want to spend New Year's Day with families
Union members will be demonstrating against New Year's Day trading outside Debenhams' Princes Street shop in Edinburgh this afternoon. Members of shopworkers' union USDAW are to dress up as Santa Claus to collect signatures on a petition calling for Scottish stores larger than 3,000 sq ft (280 sq m) to be closed on New Year's Day.
The retailer opened two big stores in Edinburgh and Glasgow last year. According to the union, Debenhams intends to continue this practice, and will open in Dundee, East Kilbride and Inverness.
The event will also be used to raise awareness for an initiative to introduce a Scottish Parliament Bill banning large-format stores from trading on Christmas holiday dates.
MSP for Airdrie and Shotts Karen Whitefield is spearheading the campaign. She said: 'I firmly believe that we in Scotland should protect the special nature of these public holidays. I also believe that shopworkers who work tirelessly throughout the year deserve the right to spend these two important days at home with their family.'
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