Activists urged to get involved

Usdaw’s Freedom From Fear campaign seeks to prevent violence, threats and abuse against shopworkers. This year Usdaw is organising a Respect for Shopworkers Week to highlight these important issues and raise awareness amongst shopworkers, customers, employers and politicians.

Why a Freedom From Fear Campaign?

While the levels of violence, threats and abuse have decreased since Usdaw launched the Freedom From Fear Campaign in 2002, Usdaw is not complacent.

When shopworkers, retail employers, the police and government work together we can tackle crime and anti-social behaviour and make a real difference. So our campaign continues.

We are negotiating with employers to make workplaces safer, working with government to tackle crime and linking in with police initiatives.

Respect for Shopworkers Week is your opportunity to talk to the shopping public about life on the frontline for shopworkers and what it means to be verbally abused in the course of your duties at work.

It is only by keeping up the profile of our campaign that we begin to make it socially unacceptable to abuse shopworkers.

Reducing the risk in your store

Usdaw reps have an important role to play in working with managers and staff to make sure that all is being done to reduce the potential for violence and to give out the message that abuse of staff will not be tolerated.

The booklet Preventing Violence to Retail Staff - An Usdaw Guide gives lots of useful advice and action checklists.

Dealing with incidents

If the worst was to happen the Usdaw Legal Plus scheme gives free legal assistance to members who are injured in criminal attacks wherever they occur.

Members are covered for incidents at work, on their way to or from work and for incidents that are not related to work.

You may have a claim with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) if you suffer a physical or a mental injury as a result of:

• A crime of violence
• Trying to stop an offence or catch an offender
• Sexual assault

For further information on CICA claims please order a copy of Preventing Violence to Retail Staff - An Usdaw Guide

Checklist for activists

Reps should aim to:

• Organise a stall on or near Friday 6 November 2009 and order materials.
• Ask your Labour MP or candidate to join you on your street stall.

Organise a stall on or near 6 November 2009

An important part of our Freedom From Fear campaign is raising public awareness. Let's face it, if we can persuade customers to respect shopworkers in the first place, much of the problem will be solved.

Setting up a stall in or near your store is an excellent way of engaging the public in our campaign. If you have not done a stall before you might want to contact your local office on 0845 6060640 for advice.

Make sure you invite your Labour MP or candidate. If you have any queries on the Freedom From Fear campaign, please do not hesitate to contact:

• Health and safety officer, Doug Russell on 0161 249 2441 or political officer David Williams on 0161 249 2452.

Invite your labour MP or candidate

Usdaw is encouraging all Labour MPs and candidates to get involved in a local Usdaw event during Respect for Shopworkers Week. Their support is very helpful because they can generate media interest and encourage local police and councils to take action.

Once your store manager has agreed to a stall you can invite your Labour MP or candidate:

• Write to them at House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA. Or telephone them on 020 7219 3000.
• If you don't have a Labour MP, but would like to invite your Labour candidate please call the Usdaw politics office on 0161 249 2452.

When you have arranged for your Labour MP or candidate to turn up and support the campaign mention the following:

1. Your real life experiences in your workplace. Not just the bad things concerning incidents, but the good stuff about safety improvements in your store.

2. Ask them to talk to the local council and the police about dealing with incidents of customer anti-social behaviour and criminal activity.

If you are in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland you can also invite your local politician:

• Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) Tel: 0131 348 5000
• Welsh Assembly Member (AM) Tel: 029 20 82 5111
• Northern Ireland Assembly Member (MLA) Tel: 028 9052 1333

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© 2003 (USDAW) Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
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