A survey by the daily Aamulehti shows that Finns want all grocery stores to be allowed to open on Sundays. Shop stewards of the Finnish Food Workers' Union claim the idea would open the door to a whole host of problems. According to the poll that Aamulehti commissioned from financial pollster Taloustutkimus, nearly 70 percent of the public would want grocery stores to be allowed to open on Sundays. Currently, only small stores can open, and exceptions are made for other shops during peak summer and winter holiday months. The survey also shows that the number of people wanting Sunday grocery shopping has increased year by year since 2000. Stores other than groceries are not terribly missed on Sundays, however. Union Warns of Consequences The Finnish Food Workers' Union fears that Sunday shopping will set an undesirable chain of events in motion. Employees will have to work more weekends not only in shops, but in the whole production and delivery chain as well. The Union says this can't work unless public services like day care and public transport are expanded on weekends as well. In addition, the Union's shop stewards say that if more of the work force starts working on weekends, there will be increased pressure to do away with the hefty wage bonuses for working on Sundays. Soon, claims the Union, Finland will be left with a seven-day working week.
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