High crime figures are just the tip of the iceberg, says Usdaw

Leading retail trade union Usdaw today urged for greater respect for shopworkers, following the publication of figures that show staff continue to face high levels of abuse and violence.

Retail crime figures published today by the Scottish Retail Consortium show that in 2002 there were 24 recorded incidents of verbal abuse, physical violence and threats of violence per 1,000 employees in the sector in Scotland.

While even this figure is disturbing, Usdaw is keen to stress that the statistics are likely to be the tip of the iceberg – with many shopworkers choosing not to report incidents they now consider commonplace.

Usdaw General Secretary Sir Bill Connor was one of the guest speakers at the launch of the 2nd Scottish Retail Crime Survey in Edinburgh today. He said: "It is a sad fact of life that violence and abuse is becoming an everyday part of working life for too many retail workers. Our members tell us of shocking incidents - being threatened with knives, punched, kicked and shouted at on a regular basis."

The issue of violence and abuse towards shopworkers is an important campaigning subject for Usdaw, which has around 250,000 members in the retail sector.

The scale of the problem prompted the trade union to launch a campaign called Freedom From Fear, which aims to raise awareness of the issue and seek the introduction of measures that will make the workplace a safer environment. A National Respect for Shopworkers Day, organised by Usdaw, took place on 17th September, gaining support from many MSPs and MPs.

During the course of the past year, Usdaw members, staff and supporters in Scotland have collected 20,000 signatures on a petition calling for shopworkers to have the right to be safe at work, free from fear of violence and abuse, and treated by customers with the respect they deserve.

Note

- An Usdaw delegation, led by Sir Bill Connor and the union's Scottish Divisional Officer Frank Whitelaw, was presenting the petition to Michael McMahon MSP, the Scottish Parliament's Convenor of Public Petitions, at 1-15pm today at Cannonball House, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh.

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