Tag: Boxing Day

98% of Scottish retail workers call for shops to be closed on New Year’s Day and Boxing Day

Exhausted staff need a decent break says Usdaw

Retail trade union Usdaw has today published a poll of over 1,000 of its members in Scotland, which shows that 98% are calling for large stores to be closed on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. This would give staff a decent break over the festive period after a busy run-up to Christmas.

Usdaw has called on retailers to close early on Christmas Eve and to keep stores shut until 27 December, along with an early close on New Year’s Eve and remaining closed until 2 January.

The union says that if stores do open, they should only be staffed with genuine volunteers on premium pay. Usdaw also asks shoppers to respect retail staff who far too often face violence, threats and abuse at work.

Voices from the festive frontline: 

Some of the comments from Scottish retail workers who completed the Usdaw festive working survey, when asked what impact Boxing Day and New Year’s Day working has on them:

·         You can’t properly enjoy Christmas Day or Hogmanay if you know you are having to work the next day. It feels like precious family time has been taken from you.

·         I have a young child and my partner has split shifts (essential worker). I don’t want to spoil someone else’s days to look after my child.

·         We should all be able to have time with our families over the festive season, and a decent break. We work so much on the run up to Christmas.

·         Unable to properly relax and enjoy time off with family, knowing you’ve got work the next day, also unable to make plans for long weekends over bank holidays.

·         We are open every other day of the year; what difference would having 25th-26th and 1st of Jan off make?

·         I’m actually working on New Year’s Day this year so having to miss out on our family get together. I think large shops should be closed.

Tony Doonan – Usdaw regional secretary for Scotland says: “Hogmanay and New Year is a special holiday in Scotland, but this is not reflected in the experience of many retail workers.

“Too many do not get a decent break over the Christmas and New Year period. After working so hard to ensure we can all get ready to celebrate, they can arrive home shattered and have to spend time on Christmas Day and Hogmanay getting ready for work the next day. This is why 98% of retail workers want shops to shut on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

“While Usdaw has successfully secured the closure of large stores on Christmas Day, the rest of the holiday season can see extended trading days for many. By the time retail workers get to the festivities, they will have been through a very busy run-up to Christmas.

“Where we have agreements to negotiate with employers, we have reached national agreements for shops to be staffed with genuine volunteers only, and our workplace reps are supporting members to help make sure that happens at store level.

“We also send our appreciation to those workers behind the shopfront who have to work on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, not least in distribution, food and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

“Our message to customers is have a great Christmas and a happy New Year. Please appreciate all those who have to work over the festive period. If you must shop on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, please treat the staff with respect and understand they would most likely rather have the time off.”

Three arrested following Boxing Day derby pyrotechnic incidents

Three people have been arrested in connection with pyrotechnics offences following incidents in Edinburgh yesterday (Boxing Day).

A 17-year-old and a 28-year-old man have been arrested and charged in connection with being in possession of pyrotechnics in the Haymarket area prior to the Hearts vs Hibernian match on Thursday, 26 December, 2024.

They are due to appear in court at a later date.

A 39-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with setting off pyrotechnics in Russell Road. He too is due to appear in court at a later date.

Enquiries are ongoing in relation to four pyrotechnic smoke devices discharged within Tynecastle stadium during the Hearts vs Hibernian match on Thursday, 26 December, 2024. 

Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie said: “Setting off pyrotechnics in the street or within a sporting stadium is a criminal offence. I would ask people to think of the impact it could have on those around you, particularly people with medical conditions, young children and elderly. 

“We will continue to work in partnership with football clubs to prevent fans from taking pyrotechnics into grounds and to pursue those who put other fans’ safety at risk. 

“Anyone with information regarding persons using or being in possession of pyrotechnics is urged to contact Police Scotland on 101.”

Hibs came out on top in the Boxing Day derby match, beating their old rivals 2-1.

Mounted fox hunts testing the new ban, according to charity

Four incidents reported to Police Scotland in first season under strengthened law

As fox hunts across Scotland prepare for the biggest day in the hunting calendar – Boxing Day – a leading animal welfare charity warns that the boundaries of the new ban are being tested by hunts since it came into force earlier this year. 

Director of the League Against Cruel Sports Scotland, Robbie Marsland said: “It’s early days but there are signs that a number of hunts are testing the new ban.

“The good news is that Police Scotland and the Scottish Government are taking this seriously. I think we are all agreed that any early attempts to get round the new law should be nipped in the bud.”

The charity says since the first season under the new Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023 got underway it has reported four incidents to Police Scotland which are currently being investigated. 

The new legislation which passed through Parliament in January this year brought into force a number of measures which significantly curtail mounted hunting activity, including reducing the number of dogs which can be used to hunt a wild mammal to just two, instead of a full pack, and reducing the number of dogs which can be used below ground to just one. 

The Act also includes a pre-emptive ban on trail hunting. Trail hunting is a sport which was created after hunting was banned in England and Wales following the passing of the Hunting Act in 2004. Its inclusion in the Act means trail hunting can not be established north of the border. 

Boxing Day Snow and Ice warning

The Met Office has issued a Yellow warning of snow, ice affecting Dumfries, Galloway, Lothian & Borders until 6pm tonight

Wintry showers are likely to combine with some icy surfaces to cause some travel disruption, mainly to higher routes.

What to expect

  • Some roads and railways likely to be affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services
  • A very small chance of interruptions to power supplies.
  • Probably some icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths

https://metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#?date=2022-12-25&id=9ab0ce11-db08-40da-bec6-a5188a65aa75&referrer=rss

Witness appeal: Cars vandalised in South Queensferry

Police are appealing for witnesses after a number of car tyres were vandalised in South Queensferry on Boxing Day.

The incidents happened during the early hours of Saturday 26 December 2020 while the vehicles were parked on Echline View, Echline Avenue, Stoneyflatts Crescent, Inchgarvie Park, Stewart Terrace, Station Road and Lawson Crescent.

A man was seen in the area at the time and is described as wearing a dark coloured hoody and distinctive jogging bottoms that are tight at the ankles but baggy and loose fitting at the top.

Constable Gill Young, from South Queensferry Police Station, said: “We are appealing to the local community living in or near these streets to check any CCTV or doorbell footage for any footage or images of this male who was seen between 4.20am and 4.30am.

“If you have any information, please call us on 101 quoting incident number 1178 of 26 December 2020. You can also call anonymously with information about these crimes by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”