Usdaw says new report highlights ‘epidemic’ of violence in Britain’s shops

Retail union Usdaw says a new report showing thousands of workplace injuries are caused by physical assaults highlights a worrying epidemic of violence in stores across the UK.

The report by AXA Insurance found that a staggering eight per cent of all workplace injuries are caused by workers being attacked by customers or colleagues.

“This report is very welcome as it highlights the grim reality that over 20,000 shopworkers are physically assaulted in their workplaces every year,” says Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett. “This epidemic of violence is aimed at our members who are only doing their jobs and results in many of them leaving the retail sector because they are so traumatised.

“Our members tell us violence in stores is on the increase which is why we launched our groundbreaking Freedom From Fear campaign working with retailers to tackle this problem store by store across the UK.

“Although the figures are bad just think how terrible it would be if shopworkers didn’t have the courage to say no to violence in their workplaces and if most retailers weren’t committed to making their stores zero tolerance zones for abuse.

“Our members also have to endure disgusting verbal abuse which is up 35% and we are working hard to remind consumers that they have a responsibility to treat hard working shop staff with respect.

“Thousands of workers across the UK live in fear of violence so this report will highlight to the shopping public the unacceptable extent of violence in shops and that tough measures like ASBOs banning abusive customers from stores will be used to protect our members.”

Notes to Editors:

• The research company YouGov plc interviewed 718 UK adult employees during May 2006. To find the relevant respondents YouGov plc conducted an initial recruitment exercise where they interviewed 41,541 adults who live in Great Britain. Via the recruitment exercise they located 3,889 people who had been injured at work in the past five years.
• Contacts for newsdesks: Usdaw’s Media Officer, Paul Clarke, can be contacted on 0161 249 2469 or e-mail paul.clarke@usdaw.org.uk.
• Usdaw (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK’s fifth biggest trade union, with over 340,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
• More information and news releases are available at our online Newsroom.
• Journalists can subscribe to receive Usdaw news releases via our online e-news service.

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