German News (English Edition) Su, 08.08.1999 24:00 CEDT
Headlines:
Discussion of Sunday shopping continues
Members of the CDU/CSU, as well as members of the SPD, and the FDP, have
voiced their reluctance to violate Sundays as a day of rest.
The German Industry and Trade Commission (DIHT) has called for stores to
be allowed to set their own hours on workdays. According to the
Commission, such a move could ease the urgency of the Sunday-shopping
debate.
The highest drama in the debate so far occurred today. About 100 shops
were open for the second Sunday in a row in Halle, and the throngs of
shoppers were met by protesting labour union members handing out pamphlets
saying "Leave me in peace on Sundays". While protests have been growing
all over the country, merchants in Halle announced record sales today.
Shops in Dessau remained closed. The Kaufhof department store on the
Alexanderplatz square in Berlin, which was the center of the Sunday
offensive last week, also remained closed.
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