Retail staff endure violence and abuse

Over the last 12 months, more than 300 frontline retail staff were assaulted every day, a survey by shopworkers’ union Usdaw has revealed.

And the union also found that one in six shopworkers did not report a violent attack to their employer.

Speaking at Respect for Shopworkers Week last month, general secretary John Hannett said that too often retail employees are confronted with violence, threats and abuse.

“In the course of their duties, shopworkers are expected to enforce the law. Whether that is preventing under-age purchases of products like knives, tobacco or alcohol, or detaining shoplifters until the police arrive, they can be put in real danger,” he said.

“Parliament has given shopworkers the duty to enforce the law and Parliament should provide the necessary protection.

“So it has been disappointing to see Tory and Liberal MPs, on four occasions in the last couple of years, combine to vote down additional legal protections when proposed by Labour.”

He said the union continues to campaign for a change in the law to ensure that proper punishments are given out.

“We must give a clear message that assaulting workers who are serving the public is totally unacceptable.”

Some staff said they do not report violent attacks as they don’t feel it would make any difference if they do, while others said they saw it as just a part of being in a frontline job.

www.usdaw.org.uk/newsevents/news/2014/nov/over300shopworkersareassau.aspx

www.usdaw.org.uk/ourcampaigns/freedomfromfear.aspx