A UNION official says local workers are furious at a proposal to lift restrictions on trading for the remaining four-and-a-half days a year that are currently protected.
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But Member for Bathurst Paul Toole says any change by the NSW Government will aim to find the right balance for consumers and workers.
The NSW parliament has recently debated the remaining restrictions, which aim to ensure workers are able to spend important days such as Boxing Day and Easter Sunday together.
As it stands, Christmas and Boxing Day are the only consecutive non-trading days on the retail calendar. And with the holidays fast approaching, workers say they are fearful this could be the last Christmas they can guarantee they will get to travel to spend time with their families.
Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Assoc-iation local delegate Ann Bridger is campaigning for retail workers’ rights to be protected on these days.
“Bathurst workers don’t want this to be the last Christmas they get to spend with their families, but if the NSW Government gets its way, that will be the case,” she said.
“There are only four-and-a-half days a year when shops are closed and workers across the board get to spend time with their families and friends. We can’t afford to lose those final few remaining days.”
This is not the first time workers have had to campaign to keep restrictions on holiday trading.
The last NSW government was made aware of the issue and kept the restrictions as they were, but now there is a new government in power, the subject has risen again.
Ms Bridger is asking that local MPs be upfront about their stance on the issue.
Member for Bathurst Paul Toole referred to the current legislation regarding trading hours on the four-and-a-half restricted days of the year and said the government would take action as necessary to ensure there is balance for workers and consumers.
“The government is currently engaging with all interested groups to ensure it strikes the right balance by permitting shops to open at times convenient to consumers, protecting the family life of shop workers and allowing those who wish to work the opportunity to earn extra income,” he said.
A petition, which received thousands of signatures, has already been submitted to the government.
