Preliminary results from nearly 2,000 retail staff show that in the last twelve months:
 

• 92% have experienced verbal abuse,
• 70% were threatened by a customer,
• 14% were assaulted.
• One in five victims have never reported an incident to their employer, including 5% who had been assaulted.

West Midlands voices from the frontline: These are some of the comments West Midlands shopworkers shared when responding to Usdaw’s survey:

Birmingham: “Threatened to be killed as refused to allow abuse of my staff; threatened to be recorded on mobile and posted on social media as refused to serve aggressive customers.”- “Shoplifter thumped me in the chest.”

Coventry & Warwickshire: “Called a b*tch or f**king idiot, usually when having to wait in queues when busy or if I have to clean the till for Covid.” – “Verbal abuse and physical abuse, on one occasion had fruit thrown at me.”

Hereford & Worcester: “At the start of the pandemic we had a lot of verbal abuse as there was a shortage of stock.” – “Spat on for asking customer to queue outside store due to Covid restrictions.”

Shropshire: “I have had a glass door slammed into my forearm, been spat at and verbally abused for 10 + minutes.”- “Spat at and a bag of BBQ coal thrown at me.” – “Customers threatening to smash your face in, barging into you etc.”

Staffordshire: “Sworn at on a number of occasions and told to f**k off when asking people to wear their masks or keep their social distance.” - “Threats from customers ranging from being stabbed, kidnapped and attacked after work.”

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “It is heart-breaking to hear these testimonies from West Midlands shopworkers who deserve far more respect than they receive. Our latest survey results clearly show the scale of the appalling violence, threats and abuse faced by shopworkers and demonstrate the need for a ‘protection of shopworkers’ law.

“It has been a terrible year for our members, with over 90% of shopworkers suffering abuse, more than two-thirds threatened and one in seven assaulted. We are saying loud and clear that enough is enough, abuse should never be part of the job. 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.

“Today a new protection of shopworkers law comes into force in Scotland, but we are deeply disappointed that the UK Government has continued to resist a similar measure in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Retail staff across the UK have a crucial role in our communities and that role must be valued and respected, they deserve the protection of the law.

“This is a hugely important issue for our members. They are deeply concerned that the current high levels of abuse will become the norm, unless the Government takes urgent and meaningful action. Shopworkers are saying loud and clear that enough is enough. The Government has promised to bring forward an amendment to their flagship policing bill in the House of Lords and we urge them to keep their word.”

Notes for editors:

Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with over 380,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades.

Preliminary results of the Usdaw’s 2021 survey, based on 1,966 responses, show that in 2020 so far: 92.17% were verbally abused, 70.14% were threatened. 25.13% shopworkers had been assaulted during their career. 14.04% had been assaulted this year. The final results of the survey will be published in the New Year.

Usdaw summer campaign week, 22-29 August 2021: During the week, Usdaw members, reps and activists will be raising awareness of the year-round Freedom from Fear Campaign, talking to the public at street stalls to promote a message of ‘respect for shopworkers’ and running campaigns in workplaces.

Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act 2021:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2021/6

Usdaw’s Freedom from Fear Campaign seeks to prevent violence, threats and abuse against workers by engaging the public, shopworkers and the Government. www.usdaw.org.uk/FreedomFromFear

For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion