About this campaign

Since the Sunday Trading Act was brought in, in 1994, any shop over 280 square metres (3000 square feet) has only been able to open for six hours on a Sunday.

During the Covid pandemic, the Government considered allowing shops to stay open longer. Since then, the idea of longer trading hours on Sunday has been brought up in order to help the high street and retail sector to recover on a few occasions.

We support the recovery of the high street, but it cannot come at the cost of the wellbeing of the workers who keep the industry going.

Ways to support the campaign

Over 90% of shopworkers oppose longer opening hours on Sundays and 58% of the general public also support the current rules, with just 21% opposing them.

You can support the campaign by signing up to get updates on the fight against increasing Sunday trading hours.

What we've achieved so far

In April 2020, Alok Sharma, then Business Secretary, told the Commons Business Select Committee that he was considering allowing longer shop opening hours on Sundays.

Opposition from Usdaw over concerns in relation to employee rights helped pressure the Government into a rethink. The Union will continue to campaign against the scrapping of Sunday opening hours any time it is considered in future.

We obviously support an industrial strategy for the recovery of the retail sector, but not at the cost of workers.