Statement by TUV Court Councillor Ron McDowell:
“On Tuesday Belfast City Council made yet another blunder when members backed an Alliance proposal to develop plans for a pilot extended Sunday trading scheme.
“The blowback has been immediate and predictable. I have never made any secret of my religious convictions but even those who, unlike myself, don’t have concerns about Sabbath observance see the value in hard working people having a Sunday morning off.
“Those employed in the retail sector are often the most poorly paid and have little enough time with their families as they struggle to make ends meet.
“As the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Northern Ireland Committee pointed out in a resolution passed in 2017:
“the trend towards 24/7 retail trading, including deregulated Sunday trading, is having a serious negative impact on retail workers, associated workers and local communities across Ireland. Employee exibility in retail is increasingly one-sided with the employer changing shifts and hours at short notice with little discussion.”
“Council is out of touch when it comes to this issue and disregarding the views and rights of working class people. They need to wise up.”