Deeside MS backs respect for shop workers campaign this Christmas

Local Member of the Senedd Jack Sargeant is working alongside USDAW during the busy festive period.

Shoppers are being reminded to be kind and respectful to retail staff when doing their shopping in the run up to Christmas. Whilst tensions are always higher during the Christmas shopping period, everyone deserves respect, courtesy, and to be safe from violence and abuse.

More than 120,000 people in Wales work in the retail sector, providing a vital service for consumers in communities across the nation.

A recent survey by the shopworkers’ union Usdaw revealed that over a 12-month period, almost half of shopworkers had been threatened, and around 7 in 10 had experienced verbal abuse, with the majority of incidents attributed to theft from shops.

Usdaw’s Freedom From Fear Campaign seeks to prevent violence, threats and abuse against workers. Its focus is raising public awareness that this is unacceptable behaviour, and give workers the confidence to speak out, report abuse and not accept it as part of the job.

Jack Sargeant, Minister responsible for Social Partnership said: “The Welsh Government is committed to fair work practices for all workers in Wales and firmly believe abuse should never be part of the job. It’s issues such as this that highlight how important our social partnership arrangements between retailers, unions and government are for improving outcomes for workers.

“I would like to remind all residents in Alyn and Deeside to be respectful when engaging with retail staff whilst Christmas shopping and encourage shop colleagues to report abuse when it happens.”

Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Rebecca Evans said: “We recognise the seasonal pressures on retail as people across Wales prepare for Christmas. The Welsh Government and our partners on the Retail Forum are working closely with the Police and Crime Commissioners and Welsh police forces to ensure our shopworkers are safe at work, and able to serve Welsh consumers, free from fear over Christmas and into the New Year.”