Sunday Opening: Survey Causes Backlash

Besides rising prices, the question of Sunday opening is a recurring topic in retail. Employee representatives and the church are strictly against it, while company representatives are mostly in favor. The union GPA has now reinforced its explicit no with a survey among the population and sees itself confirmed in the negative result. The younger and more urban the respondents, the more likely they are to be in favor of opening, but a majority for opening is not found in any group.

The opinion among the population is clearly negative, according to GPA head Barbara Teiber (SPÖ). An overwhelming majority wants the free Sunday to be preserved as a day for family and leisure.

Sunday Opening as a Topic in Survey

If they could decide for themselves, 75 percent of the 1,000 respondents are against Sunday opening of shops, according to the study. Only 21 percent were in favor, and four percent did not provide any information. "Contrary to the opinion of some business representatives, Austrians are very satisfied with the current opening hours," Teiber concludes from the results of the study commissioned by IFES. "Although there are differences depending on place of residence and age, no group has a majority for Sunday opening. Even in larger cities, more than eight out of ten respondents are satisfied with the current situation."

Among respondents up to 25 years old, 38 percent would be in favor of opening, 57 percent against, the survey shows. Among those aged 26 to 34, 29 percent are in favor, 66 percent against. Among those over 65, only ten percent are in favor of opening and 86 percent against. Looking at the population size of the place of residence, in more or less large urban centers, 22 to 24 percent are in favor of opening and 71 to 75 percent against. In rural areas and regional centers with surrounding areas, 15 to 16 percent are in favor of opening and 79 to 81 percent against. The remaining respondents did not provide any information.

When asked how important it is personally to be able to shop on Sundays, 61 percent said it was "not important at all" to them. For 38 percent, it was more or less important, 22 percent said it was rather not important, 11 percent rather important, and 5 percent very important. "Accordingly, it is also unlikely that we would suddenly experience a consumer miracle just because the new TV could also be bought on Sunday," Teiber comments on this point.

Sunday Opening Not a New Topic

From the perspective of the unionist and social democrat, it should not be forgotten "that the ongoing demand for Sunday work means real uncertainty for those affected." Therefore, an initiative is now being launched to exchange views with potentially affected individuals. After making contact, a nationwide survey will also be conducted with retail employees, according to Teiber. However, the union's position is clear: "Hardly anyone wants it, no one benefits, the employees pay the price: That is the reality of a Sunday opening," says the employee representative. With the union, there will continue to be no Sunday opening.

The topic of Sunday opening has been a recurring issue for decades. Exceptions exist at train stations and airports as well as in designated tourist regions or zones. Proponents argue for a general Sunday opening, among other points, that it could bring back "some crumbs" of the total sales pie from the online giants to brick-and-mortar retail.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.