A petition calling for Tesco on the Scottish Isle of Lewis to stay closed on Sunday has gained greater than 1,300 signatures.
The Outer Hebrides island is house to round 20,000 folks and it’s nonetheless widespread on this a part of Scotland for outlets and companies to be closed on Sundays.
The Change.org petition was began six days in the past by islander Alasdair Macleod, who mentioned that if Tesco opens seven days per week within the island's capital Stornoway, then different retailers and companies are more likely to comply with.
“Tesco is and has been a extremely valued and revered native employer and retailer, repeatedly giving generously to native charities and causes and all the time respecting our native Sunday relaxation custom. We hope that this mutual respect between group and retailer will lengthy proceed,” the petition reads.
“If Tesco Stornoway, one of many greatest shops within the Western Isles, opens on a Sunday, then different companies and organizations are more likely to open on a Sunday as properly. Sadly, they may even really feel the strain.”
The petition talks concerning the worth of Sunday's relaxation for employees and households and says that signing it means “standing up for the glory of Christ, our Christian custom, our group spirit and our proper to be completely different”.
“Many people bear in mind Island Sunday as a assured day of relaxation, rest and no work – a uncommon day spent with household and worship. Nonetheless, this straightforward however profound day is beneath risk as a result of idea of seven-day buying and selling creeping into our tradition,” it mentioned.
“When retailers and companies open their doorways on Sunday, it could appear handy at first, however the ensuing domino impact leaves employees with much less time for relaxation, much less time for household, much less time for worship and an ever-lower high quality of life.”
In contrast to England and Wales, there aren’t any restrictions on Sunday buying and selling hours in Scotland and plenty of bigger chains, together with supermarkets, are open seven days per week. In 2003 laws was handed giving Scottish store employees the proper to refuse to work on Sundays.
Stornoway native council has already given Tesco permission to open its doorways on Sunday, however the grocery store should seek the advice of with department workers.
The petition continues: “We frequently don't understand the worth of what we now have till it's gone. Many individuals residing in mainland Scotland envy us our leisurely Sundays with out work, so why commerce them for his or her hectic, disturbing, work-filled, busy Sundays?
“Yearly the Outer Hebrides are voted proper on the prime of the ballot for the happiest locations to dwell within the UK. Is it a coincidence that our islands as an entire are one of many few locations the place the standard Sunday of relaxation and no work remains to be assured?”
