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Arena Magazine Issue 04 |
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Members power ahead with in store campaign
Usdaw members have given the Freedom From Fear campaign a massive profile in stores throughout the UK. Shopworkers and customers are giving it their backing in unprecedented numbers as the publicity profile goes into overdrive.
Reps and members at the Sainsbury Taplow store collected more than 300 signatures for the national petition, during a campaign awareness day, with support from management, staff and customers. Checkout supervisor Chris Pinnock was one of the first signatures on the petition, she said: "I was verbally abused by a customer last year. He was swearing and shouting disgusting, filthy things at me. I was so upset that I burst into tears.
"The man was well known in the store for being abusive to female staff. Our union rep Ernie Weller spoke to the management and eventually they agreed to ban the abusive customer from the store.
"Usdaw's campaign is brilliant," said Chris. "Nobody should have to put up with that level of abuse. I was only trying to do my job, and in the end I was a nervous wreck and frightened to go to work."
Academy trainee, Liz Hampson is working with members at the Kwik Save store in Castleford, Yorkshire to help raise awareness of the campaign. "The store is notorious for all sorts of problems," said Liz. "The staff are abused, on a weekly basis, by drugged up shoplifters and gangs of youths.
"The manager was threatened by a female shoplifter who told her she knew where she lived and she was going to get her. I've given the staff all the campaign material," said Liz, "and I've asked them to use the incident report forms and write everything down. Hopefully the campaign will help make a difference."
Staff at the Super Valu store in Newry, Northern Ireland have supported the campaign from the outset. Union rep Ann Bannon is aiming to get a similar response across the company's other 15 stores. "One of our colleagues was violently attacked by a shoplifter," said Ann. "After that, everyone could see the sense of the campaign. Customers have also given it their support."
Hayley Pickles at the Tesco Scarborough store is doing her best to get the message across. She has appeared in the local press and won the support of MP Lawrie Quinn. "We want to spread the word to shoppers and other businesses where violence and abuse is an issue," she said. "Anyone who works with the public is potentially at risk."
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