SDA NSW Branch Friday, 19 December 2014
MOST of us will be home with family and friends on Christmas Day. But some workers will have to turn up for work on Christmas Day.
In many cases they are doing essential work such as police, security guards, and operators of critical infrastructure.
Increasingly though it’s only because an argument has been had and lost as to whether a particular business really needs to be open for trade on that day.
The front line of this battle is retail.
In New South Wales most shops close on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. A compromise has been reached where a small number of shops in the Sydney CBD open on Boxing Day and trading is also allowed in designated tourist areas.
Meanwhile, the great majority of supermarkets and other large shops across NSW remain closed for both Christmas and Boxing Day so that their staff can enjoy a well-earned break after the busy month of December.
In some cases that two-day break is the only time some workers have to rejoin distant family members.
Earlier this month a shopping centre was exposed for planning to trade on Christmas Day. To do this is to steal Christmas from retail workers and their families. It’s against the law for most shops too.
Santa knows who’s naughty or nice so the shopping centre got a visit from some grumpy Santas to make the point.
The Liberal State Government wants to scrap the restrictions on Boxing Day trading and allow any shop to open on this day.
Supposedly workers would be protected by a clause that work on the day is voluntary. However it’s not hard to do the math.
Opening every store in Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and regional NSW to trade on Boxing Day would require thousands of extra people to present themselves for work.
If you’re casual or in insecure work do you seriously believe that you will have much say about whether you have to give up your Boxing Day to attend work?
It isn’t Christmas without Boxing Day
Preventing these sorts of situations is all part of the Take The Time campaign. The campaign, supported by the SDA, community and church groups, has successfully lobbied cross-bench Parliamentarians to block the Government’s attempt at further deregulation so far.
The Baird Government haven’t given up though. As recently as November, a government spokesperson reaffirmed their intention to change the law to allow for open slather on Boxing Day if they get the chance, something retail workers in NSW should keep in mind when they cast their votes next March.
They need to leave the days alone, leave them for families, leave them for the kids.
Retail workers know that Christmas just isn’t Christmas without Boxing Day.
Take the time for better work-life balance
Stand up for retail workers and against any further erosion of their precious family time.
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