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Usdaw will study the detail of a Government amendment on a protection of workers law

Date: 02 December 2021 Retail trade union Usdaw welcomes the Government accepting the need for retail workers to have specific legal protection from violence at work. After years of opposition to Usdaw’s campaign for a new law to protect shopworkers from violence, threats and abuse; the Government has today announced that they will seek to amend the Police, Crime Sentencing and Courts Bill in the House of Lords.
Usdaw is currently looking at the wording of the amendment and are keen to work with the Government and Members of the House of Lords to ensure that the draft provisions deliver the protections retail workers deserve.

Paddy Lillis - Usdaw General Secretary says: “After years of campaigning we are pleased to have secured movement from the Government and that they have finally accepted the need to legislate to protect shopworkers from violence at work. We are studying the amendment to the Policing Bill and are keen to engage with the Government and politicians from all parties so that our members can be absolutely clear that the provisions in the Bill will deliver the protections they deserve.

“Usdaw members working in retail have for too long been in the firing line of appalling behaviour from a significant minority of customers. Nine in ten shopworkers have faced abuse in the last year, with far too many also suffering threats and violence. A protection of workers law is long overdue and this could be a step in the right direction.”

Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with over 370,000 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.
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion

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The official website of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers