Usdaw launches Respect for Shopworkers Week

Scottish shopworkers speak out about violence, threats and abuse

Retail trade union Usdaw has today launched Respect for Shopworkers Week to raise public awareness of violence, threats and abuse against retail staff. Scottish shopworkers speak out about their own experiences.

Interim results from Usdaw’s ‘Freedom from Fear’ survey of over 2,000 retail staff shows that so far this year:

• 76% say abuse has been worse than normal during the Covid-19 pandemic,
• 85% of shopworkers have experienced verbal abuse,
• 57% were threatened by a customer,
• 9% were assaulted.

The annual respect for shopworkers week runs from 16-22 November 2020. During the week, Usdaw will be raising awareness of the year-round Freedom from Fear Campaign and promoting the parliamentary petition calling on the Government to legislate to protect shopworkers.

The petition currently has over 70,000 signatures and can be signed at: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/328621

Voices from the frontline: These are some of the comments Scottish shopworkers shared when responding to Usdaw’s survey:

• Shouting, being dismissed, being spoken down to. Treated like scum.
• We deal with everything threatened to be stabbed after work, family threatened, grabbed by the neck and pushed against the wall.
• Pandemic has brought out the worst behaviour in many people. Verbal abuse for limiting items during lockdown, making people queue and most for mask wearing.
• Varies from comments such as stupid bitch, jobsworth, being told to f*** off or shut up.
• Always about alcohol.  The refusal to sell to an intoxicated person or when asking for age identification.

Paddy Lillis, Usdaw General Secretary, says: “It is heart-breaking to hear these testimonies from Scottish shopworkers who deserve far more respect than they receive.

“Abuse should never be a part of the job and we are appalled that three-quarters of retail staff say abuse has been worse during this appalling national pandemic. At a time when we should all be working together to get through this crisis, it is a disgrace that staff working to keep food on the shelves and the shop safe for customers are being abused.

“Action to protect shop workers is needed and that is why we have launched a petition, which now has nearly 70,000 signatures. We were deeply disappointed by the Government’s response to the petition, offering little more than sympathy, so we continue to campaign for the 100,000 signatures needed to trigger a parliamentary debate.

“This is a hugely important issue for our members and their local communities. Shopworkers are saying loud and clear that enough is enough, abuse should never be just a part of the job. Retail staff have a crucial role in our communities and that role must be valued and respected, they deserve the protection of the law.”