Retail workers celebrate Easter trading victory in Nelson

Local retail workers are welcoming the Nelson City Council’s decision to keep Easter Sunday a shop-free day as a “victory for family time.”

“We took a group of local retail workers to the council vote and they were stoked after councillors decided to retain the status quo,” said FIRST Union’s Nelson-based organiser Rachel Boyack.

Nelson City Council’s decision comes only a week after the Tasman District Council voted to retain the status quo and keep Easter Sunday a shop-free day.

“Keeping Easter Sunday shop-free means working people in retail get to spend the day with their family and friends,” said Boyack.

“Throughout the initial consultation period working people in retail made their voices heard. It really goes to show there’s no appetite for reform and people prefer to keep Easter Sunday for things like family and faith.”

“The Government’s Shop Trading Hours Amendment Act was always just a solution looking for a problem,” said Boyack.

The Shop Trading Hours Amendment Act 2016 hands local authorities the power to allow shop trading on Easter Sunday in all or parts of their city or district.

ENDS

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