Petition against abuse of shopworkers reaches new milestone

Usdaw is continuing to campaign for the 100,000 signatures that should trigger a parliamentary debate.

Paddy Lillis, Usdaw general secretary, said: “Respect for Shopworkers Week is our opportunity to publicise Usdaw’s year-round Freedom From Fear campaign, which seeks to prevent violence, threats and abuse against shopworkers. I am grateful to our reps and activists who added over 10,000 signatures to the petition during the week. This is a hugely important issue for our members. With incidents of abuse doubling during the Covid-19 crisis, they are saying loud and clear that enough is enough, abuse should never be just a part of the job.

“We welcome employer support for the petition and it is clear that the public are also on board, with a Co-op survey finding that over 80% say abuse of shopworkers is unacceptable and want greater sentencing for offenders. When the shopping public, retailers and the trade union for shopworkers unite in a call for action, it should be time for the government to sit up, listen to our concerns and deliver much-needed protection for staff.

The petition, which is backed by 23 major retailers and the industry’s leading trade bodies, can be signed here.