Safety for shopworkers

MSP Mark Griffin and MP Gregg McClymont joined members of the union Usdaw at Tesco in Craigmarloch to campaign for respect for shopworkers as part of the Freedom from Fear campaign.

The Freedom from Fear campaign was organised as part of Shopworkers Week.

The campaign aims to negotiate with employers for safety and security improvements in stores; campaign for Government to ensure that their policies and actions help tackle retail crime and anti-social behaviour in shopping areas; raise awareness with the public that violence, threats and abuse against shopworkers is unacceptable behaviour and give shopworkers the confidence to speak out and not accept abuse as just a part of the job.

Staff met up with MSP Mark Griffin and MP Gregg McClymont when they visited the store on Friday, November 15, to learn more about the campaign.

Mark explained : “I fully support the work being done by Usdaw in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, and across the UK, to stand up for retail staff, many of whom are subjected to threats, abuse and even violence on a regular basis. “

Mark added: “I was pleased to join Usdaw members at Craigmarloch and will continue to campaign in parliament for a change in the law to ensure that workers are given the protection they deserve.”

Gregg said: “Too often retail employees are confronted with violence, threats and abuse and it is really important we stand together and ask people to ‘keep their cool’ and respect shopworkers.”

Gregg added: Often shopworkers are expected to enforce the law, whether that is preventing under-age purchases or detaining shoplifters until the police arrive, they can be put in real danger.”