UGT Opposes Plan to Extend Retail Opening Hours in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

The debate over extending retail opening hours has reignited tensions between social partners in the Canary Islands. The UGT Federation of Commerce and Department Stores has firmly opposed a proposal to increase the number of Sundays and holidays that shops can open in high-traffic areas of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, moving from ten to twelve days by the end of 2026. The union has made it clear that it will reject any attempt to expand these hours across other sectors of the city, marking a firm boundary in negotiations regarding working conditions.

From the union’s perspective, this issue highlights a long-standing conflict between flexible shopping hours and the survival of local businesses. UGT argues that longer opening hours do not necessarily lead to more jobs; instead, they tend to shift sales toward large retailers, which have the logistical capacity to handle demand on holidays. The union believes this dynamic threatens the viability of small, neighborhood shops that cannot compete with the operational scale of major chains.

Beyond the economic impact, the conflict highlights the ongoing struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance in a sector already characterized by high staff turnover and job instability. UGT warns that requiring employees to work more holidays will reduce their rest time and make it harder for them to manage family life.

The union maintains that any changes to current regulations must prioritize workers' rights and the survival of smaller businesses, rather than creating policies that exclusively benefit large shopping centers. Ultimately, UGT argues that the city’s commercial model should balance economic growth with social well-being—a balance they believe would be undermined by the proposed expansion of opening days in the capital of Tenerife.