While not all shopworkers suffer to this extent, some experience much higher levels of abuse, threats and violence. Usdaw’s Freedom From Fear Survey shows that during 2018:
- 65% of North West shopworkers experienced verbal abuse (which is above the national average),
- 39% were threatened by a customer,
- with 32 assaulted every day.
The Government has opened a ‘call for evidence’ on this growing issue, following pressure from Usdaw, employers like the Co-op and retailers’ representative organisations like the Association of Convenience Stores, British Retail Consortium and National Federation of Retail Newsagents. The Government is seeking the views of organisations and individuals who wish to contribute to their understanding of the problem of violence and abuse toward shop staff in England and Wales. This consultation closes at 11pm on 28 June 2019 and submissions can be made online at:
www.homeofficesurveys.homeoffice.gov.uk/s/PVAUE/
Usdaw is running their own survey, which will feed into the Home Office ‘call for evidence’ and can be completed at:
www.usdaw.org.uk/respectsurvey
Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Violence, threats and abuse against workers are amongst the great scourges of our society. The statistics are shocking and show that urgent action is required. On average a North West shopworker can end up on the wrong side of a verbal or physical assault nearly once a fortnight. Our message is clear, abuse is not a part of the job.
“Life on the frontline of retail can be pretty tough for many shopworkers and there is still a lot to do to help protect them. We launched our Freedom From Fear Campaign in the face of growing concerns amongst retail staff about violence, threats and abuse. The campaign works with employers to promote respect and make shops safer for staff and customers alike.
“So there needs to be action to help protect staff. We want the Government to provide stiffer penalties for those who assault workers; a simple stand-alone offence that is widely recognised and understood by the public, police, CPS, the judiciary and most importantly criminals.
“Usdaw welcomes the Government opening a ‘call for evidence’ and we encourage everyone concerned with this issue to make their voices heard by contributing to the Home Office online consultation or visiting the Usdaw website to complete our survey, which we will submit to the Government.
“Retail staff have a crucial role in our communities and that role must be valued and respected, they deserve the protection of the law.”
Jeff Smith MP (Labour, Manchester Withington) says: “All workers have the right to be safe at work, to be free from fear while working, and to be treated with respect. So it’s really worrying to hear of the level of abuse that shop workers in the North West continue to face.
“I’m thankful for the fantastic work Usdaw has done to highlight the risks to retail staff, and to push the Government to introduce greater protections. It’s vital that the concerns raised by representative organisations and individuals are now taken seriously and acted on. I’d encourage any shop workers to share their views and experiences by submitting evidence to the Government or taking Usdaw’s survey.”
Voices from the North West frontline: As part of Usdaw’s survey of violence, threats and abuse against shopworkers, respondents have the opportunity to feed back their experiences, here are some examples from the North West:
Bromborough: “Home delivery driver: I was called a f***ing prick for waking a customer up at 7.30 in the morning even though he had booked that delivery slot himself.”
Eccles: “Armed robbery - crow bar to my head/verbal threats.”
Liverpool: “Shoplifters girlfriend bit me on the shoulder while trying to stop him.”
Warrington: “Armed robbery. I was threatened with a knife. I was on my own on shop floor when it happened. The supervisor was in the back office. They smashed the till with a hammer. I never felt so alone, no matter how loud I screamed no one came.”
Wigan: “I was told by a 13/14 year old girl that she would break my nose, then she called me a f***ing c**t.”
Wallasey: “Customers hate the self-serve tills so we get the abuse from them.”
Poynton: “I was sworn at by a customer recently because the cash machine didn’t dispense the customer’s money and took their bankcard.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 420,000 members. Membership has increased by more than one-third over the last couple of decades. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
North West results of Usdaw’s 2018 survey, based on 518 responses, show that in 2018: 65.1% were verbally abused (which is above the national average), 39.3% were threatened, 12.7% of shopworkers had been assaulted during their career (which is above the national average), with 3.3% assaulted during 2018.
For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion