Pressure builds over retail hours

Date: 05 March 2002

The Australian Services Union has today given its strong support to a union campaign targeting the Queensland government's proposed amendments to retail trading hours.

Australian Services Union Branch Secretary Julie Bignell said the ASU was ready to join the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) in an industry wide campaign to oppose changes to Queensland's Trading (Allowable Hours) Act.

"The proposed changes to retail trading hours will have a significant impact on the family life and leisure time of thousands of workers across south-east Queensland," Ms Bignell said.

"Retail workers will effectively lose 6 public holidays as a result of these changes, and our members find that unacceptable," she said.

Ms Bignell said the Trading (Allowable Hours) Amendment Bill 2002 would allow many retailers to open on Exhibition Wednesday, New Year's Day, Boxing Day, Easter Monday, Australia Day and the Queen's Birthday for the first time.

"Many workers in the retail industry are angry that the Queensland government is attempting to overrule the decision made last year by the independent umpire, the Industrial Relations Commission," she said.

"Since that decision there has been no consultation with stakeholders like the Australian Services Union, which is disappointing to say the least," she said.

Ms Bignell said a full-page open letter in today's Courier Mail published by the SDA calls for an urgent meeting to review the legislation.

The Australian Services Union represents clerical workers in the retail industry.

For further information

Contact:	Matthew Collins
Union:	ASU Services
Contact Mobile:	0405 188 256
Email:	info@qld.asu.asn.au
WWW:	http://www.qld.asu.asn.au

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