I DIDN'T read the letter sent in by Heather Causnett but I did read Colin Jeffrey's (January 5).

The very fact he believes that people can't be forced to work shows he is living in cloud cuckoo land.

The people who work in these low-paid, dead-end jobs do so because they have no choice.

True, they can't be dragged to work against their will, but if they don't work, their working lives can be made a misery.

They can't walk out or for other reasons. If they do leave without good reason, they can be denied benefit for up to six months. The employer knows this and refuses them time off.

In other words, people who are in these jobs are in a Catch 22 situation. Unable to leave, yet unable to complain about their working hours.

I doubt Mr Jeffrey has ever worked in a shop. If he had he would change his arrogant mind.

Miss J Woodwell,

Gale Farm Court,

Acomb,

York.

...THE Archbishop of York has described Christmas Day trading in shops as 'depressing and dispiriting', a description with which I totally agree.

Shops seem to be setting themselves up as an 'essential service', on a par with hospitals and firefighters, being available every day of the year, but of course they aren't. We can manage perfectly well without shops opening on those special days.

I worked at various levels in retail for 17 years and, thankfully, left in 2000.

My husband is still in retail, but will be leaving this year to set up his own business.

This Christmas, as a manager for a shop in a national chain, he was not only working his usual 40 to 47 hours per week (he has just six days off per month) but was also required to open the shop for nine hours on Christmas Eve, and for seven hours on Boxing Day.

Our family Christmas was just one day, Christmas Day, which he was, frankly, too tired to relax and enjoy.

I'm sure that people presently employed in offices, banks and transport would throw up their hands in horror at the prospect of losing their Christmas (and New Year) breaks.

If it's essential for shop staff to work at this time of year, why not for every worker?

Please, everybody, have some humanity and show consideration towards those who work in the retail trade, allowing them to have at least two days (Christmas Day and Easter Sunday) out of the 365, when they may not be called upon to work.

E Hudson,

Temple Avenue,

York.

Updated: 10:37 Thursday, January 11, 2001