4 - 1999
Shopping on Sunday
Pro and Contra
Voices on Sunday Rest
"The creeping abolition of Sunday by authorities who compliantly give in to the wishes of the merchants for store opening and so-called family celebrations neither solves the problems of business nor does it strengthen the feeling of togetherness between people. Especially for women it becomes more and more difficult to combine work and family. Regular Sundays free of work are therefore indispensable for family, friendship, as well as community in church congregations and clubs."
Excerpt from a joint statement of the North Elbian Church and the HBV (union for commerce, banks, and insurance).
"The modern service society needs creativity and flexibility. The appropriate framework conditions must be put in place. The law on store closing often makes it impossible for business to be able to adjust to the needs of the consumers. Thus it is no longer up-to-date both in view of the more flexible rules in neighboring countries as well as in view of new forms of commerce-mail-order merchandising and selling over the Internet, which are used independently of store opening times."
Kajo Schommer, Economic Minister of the State of Saxony, member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
"In my experience the free weekend still has, as up to now, a high value. Thus each of us must wrestle with the following questions:
If the weekend is available for me and I spend it in the circle of my family and friends and draw strength and joy from it, than it must be important for me that as many others as possible have the same opportunity. I have to make it clear to myself that the saleswoman who sells me rolls on Sunday is prevented by me from having what I naturally claim for myself. As a member of a union and of the works council I say: Sunday must remain free from work and may not be allowed to become prey to commerce!"
Brigitte Meyn, Works Council member in the "Alsterhaus" department store, Hamburg.
"We live in a global society. In the USA the large bookstores are open on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Germany has become an inexpensive tourist country. We give away chances to create new jobs and to bring more tourists here. In addition to that, the pressure of local competition has grown enormously. In the train stations the shops are now also open on Sundays. The gas stations are a further example. Some may open, others may not. That is not right. All must have the same chances in order to remain able to compete. If we persist in our inflexible attitude in this country-and Sunday opening is just one example-than we develop into a closed island."
Peter Dussmann, businessman at the head of an internationally active company with 50,000 employees.
"I am very happy that the federal government and the chancellor stand by protection for Sunday. This is not a matter of just some church tradition, but rather of something valuable for all people. For me there is no doubt that Sunday rest is absolutely something that creates community and culture. A civil society needs common free time."
Christa Nickels, speaker on religious affairs for the Green Party (Buendnis 90/Die Gruenen).
