Shop Workers urge "No" vote on Easter Sunday Bill tonight

Shop workers are urging Members of Parliament to exercise their conscience votes in favour of family and community life and not commerce when they vote on a Bill aimed at opening shops on Easter Sunday tonight.

The National Distribution Union, which represents shop workers, says thousands of people have already signed a petition being circulated by churches, unions and Members of Parliament opposed to Rotorua MP Steve Chadwick’s Bill.

The bill, which hands power to councils to decide whether shops in the area should trade on Easter Sunday is also attracting council opposition. Auckland Mayor, Dick Hubbard and most councillors have signed a letter urging Auckland City MPs to vote against the bill.

“Councillors I have talked to have told me that they had not heard about this legislation and they don’t want to get involved in the debate over Easter trading. Making every area confront an issue that is only hot in a few tourist towns is unreasonable,” says Laila Harré, NDU National Secretary.

“Shop workers lobbying MPs hope that they will put the right of 220,000 retail employees to have a guaranteed day off work on Easter Sunday before other interests tonight,” said Laila Harré.

ENDS

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