Usdaw, retailers, and trade bodies are standing together, calling on the Prime Minister to accept that legislation is needed to protect the UK’s three million retail workers. However, the Government is so far rejecting the calls and is being urged to change its mind by accepting an amendment to its Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which would deliver greater protection for all frontline shopworkers.
A petition launched by shopworkers’ trade union leader Paddy Lillis, which attracted 104,000 signatures and is backed by major retailers, was debated this month by MPs and received strong support from all sides of the House of Commons, but the Government was left unpersuaded.
Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “It has been a terrible time for our members, with almost 90% of shopworkers suffering abuse, two-thirds threatened and nearly one in ten assaulted. Retail workers, their friends, family and loved ones, are saying loud and clear that enough is enough, abuse should never be just a part of the job.
“Despite overwhelming evidence the Government continues to refuse to support a specific law to protect shopworkers, which is backed by many retailers. So we are pleased that a protection of shopworkers amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill has been tabled and we hope it will be supported by MPs in the bill committee today.
“Usdaw is looking for a simple stand-alone offence that is easily understood, not just by the legal profession, but by the criminals who are assaulting, threatening and terrifying shopworkers. A separate offence for assaulting a retail worker would encourage prosecutions and provide the deterrent effect that our members are desperately looking for. A clear message that violence against someone working to serve the public is not acceptable.
“When retail employers, leading retail bodies and the shopworkers’ trade union jointly call for legislation, it is time for the Government and MPs to listen. In Scotland, MSPs voted through a new ground-breaking law to give shopworkers the protection they deserve. We are now looking for MPs to support key workers across the retail sector and help turn around the UK Government’s opposition.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with over 400,000 members. Membership has increased by more than one-third over the last couple of decades. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
Sarah Jones MP: NC45 amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, “Offence of assaulting etc. retail worker”
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/58-02/0005/amend/police_rm_pbc_0524.pdf
Usdaw’s 2020 survey of 2,729 shopworkers across the UK found that:
• 88% experienced verbal abuse
• 60% were threatened by a customer
• 9% were assaulted
• 79% of shopworkers say abuse was worse last year
The full report can be downloaded from:
www.usdaw.org.uk/FFFReport2020
66 retail leaders wrote to the Prime Minister: https://brc.org.uk/media/676908/pm-ceo-crime-letter-feb-2021.pdf
For further information please contact Usdaw’s Media Officer, David Williams on: 0161 249 2469, 07798 696 603 or by e-mail to
david.a.williams@usdaw.org.uk
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter
@UsdawUnion