Retailers to rob workers and families

#901 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 1 Jun 2014.

The major supermarket chains have called for what they describe as “the patchwork of retail trading hours” in NSW to be replaced with uniform opening and closing times, arguing the reform will reduce living costs, improve economic growth and help them compete against online retailers.

But NSW Secretary of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association, Gerard Dwyer, said the push by Woolworths and Coles was an attack on Australians’ rights to spend important holidays with their families, such as Good Friday and Boxing Day, and would have no beneficial impact on the economy. He said:

We’ve got Sunday trading and trading on most public holidays already to make sure people can shop during hours that suit them. Let’s not bow to the pressures of some misguided retailers and sacrifice our right to spend those last remaining few special days each year with our families.

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches.