Tag: Usdaw Scotland

SNP Government must do more to protect shop workers, says Usdaw

FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF SCOTLAND’S PROTECTION OF WORKERS LAW

Retail trade union Usdaw is calling on the Scottish Government to do more to protect shop workers in light of an epidemic of retail crime. The call comes on the fifth anniversary of the Scottish protection of workers’ law, which the union says makes a big difference if backed up by investment in policing.

The Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act 2021, promoted by Daniel Johnson MSP (Labour, Edinburgh Southern), came into force on 24 August 2021.

It provides a specific offence for assaulting, threatening or abusing any retail worker and a harsher sentence if they were enforcing a statutory age restriction, resulting in a fine with penalties escalating to a prison sentence.

The legislation was a direct result of Usdaw’s ‘Freedom from Fear’ campaign, working with Scottish politicians, retail employers and other organisations.

Police recorded retail crime figures in Scotland, released in June, show that:

  • Shoplifting increased from 20,557 incidents during the pandemic to 53,269 last year (2025/6), which is a 159% increase and includes a 19% rise on the previous year (2024/5).
  • The ‘clear-up’ rate for shoplifting has fallen from 74.6% in 2014/5 to 50.6% in 2025/6, an overall decrease of nearly one-third, although there was a slight improvement last year of 1.6%.
  • Since the Protection of Workers Act came into effect, the number of times the legislation has been used has increased every year. There have been 11,023 police recorded incidents of common assault of a retail worker over 5 years.

Voice from the frontline: Scottish supermarket worker Rhianna talks about how the Act has made a difference when used: “A customer was refused alcohol because they were drunk and they smacked another customer over the head with a bottle of vodka <which also injured the shop worker>.

“The staff called the police and they got there within five minutes…beforehand, it would have been ignored. So, to see that type of improvement is huge and it’s thanks to the protection of workers’ law.”

Tony Doonan – Usdaw regional secretary for Scotland says: “Scotland’s protection of retail workers’ law has made a difference, as Rhianna explains, and has been used to punish over 11,000 offenders, but much more needs to be done in Scotland’s epidemic of retail crime.

“We are continuing to work with retailers and Police Scotland to help ensure that the legislation is fully utilised. However, we have been concerned by a lack of urgency to tackle retail crime from the Scottish Government, who have overseen a record-breaking more than doubling in shoplifting, with a 19% increase last year.

“In contrast, Labour’s actions have seen retail crime reduce over the last two quarters in England and Wales. Northern Ireland rates of theft from shops have also been trending downwards.

“Scottish retail workers suffer far too many incidents of violence, abuse and threats – over two-thirds of which are triggered by theft from shops and armed robbery.

“No-one should feel afraid to go to work, but far too many retail workers do. Usdaw’s own survey shows that over three-quarters of our Scottish members working in retail are being abused, threatened and assaulted for simply doing their job and serving the community.

“They provide an essential service and deserve our respect and the protection of the law, along with the full backing of the Government.”

Joanne Thomas – Usdaw general secretary says: “Scottish shop workers deserve far more respect than they receive. The groundbreaking protection of workers’ legislation that came into force in Scotland was an important step forward and has inspired similar legislation in Westminster for England and Wales, and Stormont for Northern Ireland.

“However, passing the legislation is not enough on its own and it must be backed up with investment in policing and a priority being given to retail crime, which is spiralling out of control. Violence and abuse is not an acceptable part of the job and too many shop workers suffer all too often.

“We still need better co-ordination to ensure that retail employers, police and the courts work together to make stores safer and give staff the support and confidence they need.”

Daniel Johnson MSP (Labour, Edinburgh Southern) says: “Having worked in retail before entering Parliament, I know first-hand the growing impact of retail crime faced by shop workers in our communities.

“I’m proud of the impact made by the legislation I introduced 5 years ago to make it a specific offence to threaten, abuse or assault retail staff, with over 10,000 offences recorded since it came into force.

“The law has strengthened protections, improved reporting and sent a clear message that abuse of shop workers is unacceptable. Now we need urgent action from the Scottish Government to go further in tackling the epidemic of retail crime through stronger policing and closer partnership with retailers.”

98% of Scottish retail workers call for shops to be closed on New Year’s Day and Boxing Day

Exhausted staff need a decent break says Usdaw

Retail trade union Usdaw has today published a poll of over 1,000 of its members in Scotland, which shows that 98% are calling for large stores to be closed on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. This would give staff a decent break over the festive period after a busy run-up to Christmas.

Usdaw has called on retailers to close early on Christmas Eve and to keep stores shut until 27 December, along with an early close on New Year’s Eve and remaining closed until 2 January.

The union says that if stores do open, they should only be staffed with genuine volunteers on premium pay. Usdaw also asks shoppers to respect retail staff who far too often face violence, threats and abuse at work.

Voices from the festive frontline: 

Some of the comments from Scottish retail workers who completed the Usdaw festive working survey, when asked what impact Boxing Day and New Year’s Day working has on them:

·         You can’t properly enjoy Christmas Day or Hogmanay if you know you are having to work the next day. It feels like precious family time has been taken from you.

·         I have a young child and my partner has split shifts (essential worker). I don’t want to spoil someone else’s days to look after my child.

·         We should all be able to have time with our families over the festive season, and a decent break. We work so much on the run up to Christmas.

·         Unable to properly relax and enjoy time off with family, knowing you’ve got work the next day, also unable to make plans for long weekends over bank holidays.

·         We are open every other day of the year; what difference would having 25th-26th and 1st of Jan off make?

·         I’m actually working on New Year’s Day this year so having to miss out on our family get together. I think large shops should be closed.

Tony Doonan – Usdaw regional secretary for Scotland says: “Hogmanay and New Year is a special holiday in Scotland, but this is not reflected in the experience of many retail workers.

“Too many do not get a decent break over the Christmas and New Year period. After working so hard to ensure we can all get ready to celebrate, they can arrive home shattered and have to spend time on Christmas Day and Hogmanay getting ready for work the next day. This is why 98% of retail workers want shops to shut on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

“While Usdaw has successfully secured the closure of large stores on Christmas Day, the rest of the holiday season can see extended trading days for many. By the time retail workers get to the festivities, they will have been through a very busy run-up to Christmas.

“Where we have agreements to negotiate with employers, we have reached national agreements for shops to be staffed with genuine volunteers only, and our workplace reps are supporting members to help make sure that happens at store level.

“We also send our appreciation to those workers behind the shopfront who have to work on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, not least in distribution, food and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

“Our message to customers is have a great Christmas and a happy New Year. Please appreciate all those who have to work over the festive period. If you must shop on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, please treat the staff with respect and understand they would most likely rather have the time off.”

STUC Disabled Workers Conference: Usdaw seeks to tackle poverty and address the impact of new technology

STUC Disabled Workers Conference 2025: Usdaw seeks to tackle poverty and address the impact of new technology

Retail trade union Usdaw has a delegation of members, reps and officials attending the annual Scottish Trade Union Congress (STUC) Disabled Workers Conference in Glasgow this weekend, 22 and 23 November.

The union is raising the impact of new technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), on disabled workers; along with seeking action to address and prevent disabled people’s poverty.

Tony Doonan – Usdaw regional secretary for Scotland says: “New technologies are dramatically changing the world of work and the daily lives of workers.

“The pace and scale of change is accelerating and disabled workers are disproportionately affected by technological advancement.

“The Scottish Government’s response remains a significant factor in disabled people’s inequality. Unless unions, and specifically disabled workers, are properly consulted about the development, application and implementation of new technologies in the workplace, including AI, disabled workers will continue to be discriminated against and excluded.”

Usdaw is calling on the STUC to work with all key stakeholders including governments to:

·         Ensure conversations and decisions regarding the introduction of new technologies in the workplace include disabled workers, to improve their access to and experiences of paid work.

·         Introduce a statutory duty requiring employers in both the public and private sectors to conduct and publish equality impact assessments specifically on the introduction of new technologies at work.

Tony Doonan continued: “Disabled people are already more likely to be living in poverty, with the continuing cost of living crisis adding to the extra costs that come with living as a disabled person.

“Disabled people also continue to face discrimination in the labour market and are more likely to be employed on short-hours contracts in low-paid work. The Adult Disability Payment in Scotland is key to enabling disabled people to meet the additional costs of being disabled, including costs associated with work.

“The recent publication of an independent review calls for a simplified and more accessible application process. Significantly, the review urges the Scottish Government to protect and improve access to ADP, advising them against restricting eligibility or introducing further barriers to application.

“We urge the Scottish Government to adopt the recommendations, including investing in sustainable funding for welfare advice services and more inclusive communication.”

Usdaw is calling on the Scottish Government to take a strategic and preventative approach to disabled people’s poverty by dealing with the long-term drivers including:

·         Reviewing the adequacy of all disability benefits and disability-related premiums.

·         Working with the UK Government to fully implement the disability pay gap reporting proposals in the UK’s draft Equality Bill.

·         Raising awareness of the crucial role the social model plays in disability equality, and ensuring that they lead by example, embedding it in their approach to policy and decision making.

Usdaw Ne’er Day trading petition secures a Scottish Government consultation … after 14 year delay!

Retail trade union Usdaw has at last secured a commitment from the Scottish Government to consult on large stores closing on New Year’s Day.

The union submitted a petition to the Scottish Parliament and spent a year providing evidence to convince the Public Petitions Committee to press Ministers to make progress on a consultation.

Jamie Hepburn MSP (Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills) wrote to Usdaw yesterday (Thursday) confirming that the Scottish Government will now conduct the necessary consultation, as set out in the Christmas Day and New Year’s Day Trading (Scotland) Act 2007. However no timetable has yet been set for the consultation.

Stewart Forrest – Usdaw’s Scottish Divisional Officer says: “Confirmation that a consultation on large stores closing on New Year’s Day will now take place, after an unnecessary 14 year delay, is a step forward in our campaign to get a proper break for shopworkers over the festive period.

“We are disappointed that the Minister has not set out a timetable for the consultation and we will continue to press for further progress.

“As key workers delivering the essential service of keeping the nation fed, shopworkers deserve a decent break over the festive period. They have worked long hours in difficult circumstances throughout the pandemic, faced unprecedented levels of abuse and worried every working day about catching the virus and taking it home to their families.

“The very least that key workers in retail can expect is that the Scottish Government shows their appreciation for the essential work they’ve done throughout this appalling pandemic by progressing the call for a proper festive break.

“However this is not just a campaign for the pandemic, our members have for many years demanded a proper break after the extremely busy and stressful shopping period in the run-up to Christmas. 98% say that large stores should be closed and only 4% are happy to work on New Year’s Day or 2 January. Hogmanay and New Year is a special holiday, but this is not reflected in the experience of many retail workers, with three-quarters saying they spend too little time with friends and family.

“On behalf of Scotland’s retail workers we are urging the Scottish Government to open the consultation as soon as possible, so that the necessary legislative processes can be completed in time for 1 January 2022.”