“Enough is enough,” said local MP Nia Griffith as she joined shopworkers and their USDAW trade union reps in Llanelli’s Tesco store for Respect for Shopworkers week (15- 21 November) to highlight the growing problem of violence against shopworkers
Nia Griffith MP explained:
“Bad behaviour towards shopworkers is not a new phenomenon, but it has reached epidemic proportions since the start of lockdown in March 2020.
I know that the overwhelming majority of people agree that there is no excuse for anyone taking out their frustration on shopworkers, but the fact of the matter is 9 out of 10 shopworkers have experienced verbal abuse, with 1 in 10 actually being physically abused.
Behind these shocking statistics are real people. Mams and dads, sons and daughters, who are just doing their job and should not have to face any kind of abuse when doing so.
To tackle the problem, I really want to see the wording of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which is currently going through parliament, spell out that it is a specific offence to assault a shopworker, and make it more straightforward to prosecute and punish people who behave in this disgraceful way. Together with my Labour colleagues, I will be supporting this, but to get through Parliament, we need the Prime Minister and his Tory MPs to do likewise.
That’s why I’m pleased to support USDAW’s Freedom From Fear Campaign and why we must do absolutely everything in our power to protect shopworkers and to instil respect for the work that they do – especially during Covid-19.”