Jeff Cuthbert AM joined Usdaw reps at a campaign event in the Welsh Assembly during this year’s Respect for Shopworkers Week. During the campaign week the shopworkers union urged shoppers to remember to ‘Keep their cool at Christmas’.
Usdaw is giving advice on how to avoid stress in the run up to the busy Christmas and New Year period and reminding shoppers that any stores with a ‘Think 25’ policy require proof of age ID from any customer who looks under 25 before they can buy age-restricted products.
Usdaw’s latest survey reveals that in the last 12 months, 6% of shopworkers had been subjected to violent attack, 37% had been threatened and a massive 70% had suffered verbal abuse. Nearly half of all incidents of abuse resulted from requests for proof of age or refusing a sale of an age-restricted product.
John Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary said, “Every minute of every day a shopworker is assaulted, threatened or abused. While our Freedom From Fear campaign helps to raise awareness of the problem and reduce the number of incidents, the level of violence and abuse faced by shopworkers remains shocking and totally unacceptable.”
“Our campaign highlights the problems shopworkers face, particularly during the festive season when incidents of verbal abuse can increase dramatically. In the run up to Christmas, customers are stressed, stores are busy and sometimes things can boil over. That’s why we are asking shoppers to show respect for shopworkers and to ‘Keep your cool at Christmas’.”
Jeff Cuthbert AM said
“Retailers and their staff provide a tremendous service, especially in the run-up to Christmas, when demand is very high and stores are busy. Shopworkers deserve respect and they have my full support.
“I hope that everyone in Caerphilly gets their Christmas shopping done with the minimum of stress and I would ask that if customers are fortunate enough to look under 25, that they will take it as a compliment, not an inconvenience, when they are asked for ID.”
