SUNDAYS AS A DAY OFF
MIROSŁAW PIOTROWSKI
In the beginning of March in the European Parliament in Brussels there was a meeting of supporters of the European Alliance for the sake of the Sunday as a day off (European Sunday Alliance). This is a continuation of activity of many European groups having an influence on, among the others, the European Commission which is just carrying out social consultations concerning a directive relating to the time of work. During breakfast, not only did parliamentarians of the European Parliament from various EU countries speak, but also employers and representatives of social groups. The Germans were domineering, which drastically increases success of this initiative, although this fact does not decide about it. One of the main animators is the German euro-deputy CDU Thomas Mann, which whom I have been cooperating for many years. Although everybody is aware of the fact that Sunday as a day off in Europe has mainly the Christian context, during the discussion this argument was avoided. In the first place ‘promoting the balance between the family and personal life, and work’ was suggested. Supporters of Sundays as days off prove that one day in a week which is completely a day-off, favours creativity at work in the future and increases competitiveness. As a strong evidence, an example of Bavaria is given, which, on the one hand is the richest land in Germany, and, on the other hand, it has the biggest number of days-off, because thirteen of them, in comparison to other lands. The Bavarians do not work, among the others, on the Good Friday, and on Catholic feasts of Ascension and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Sunday which is treated as the last day of the week, or the first day of the week, is considered by the Christians as a holy day. A possible revolutionary attempt of changing Sunday as a day off into another day would bring, according to some employers, big economic losses resulting from transactional costs. The Action ‘Sundays as days off in Europe’ concerns mainly employees of large-area shops, who also have a right to rest, and such rest can and should be active, which consequently arouses the development of recreational sector, balancing possible economic losses. It will turn out soon if such formulated arguments, falling onto the EU ground will be sufficient in order to bring fruits in the form of Sundays as days off.
AA
„Niedziela” 11/2015