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Retailers, trade union Usdaw, and trade bodies are calling on the prime minister to accept that legislation is needed to protect the UK’s three million retail workers. However, the government is so far rejecting the calls and is being urged to change its mind by accepting an amendment to its Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which would deliver greater protection for all frontline shopworkers.
A petition launched by shopworkers’ trade union leader Paddy Lillis, which attracted 104,000 signatures and is backed by major retailers, was debated this month by MPs and received strong support from all sides of the House of Commons, but the government was left unpersuaded.
Paddy Lillis, Usdaw general secretary, said: “Despite overwhelming evidence, the government continues to refuse to support a specific law to protect shopworkers, which is backed by many retailers. So we are pleased that a protection of shopworkers amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill has been tabled and we hope it will be supported by MPs in the bill committee today.
“Usdaw is looking for a simple stand-alone offence that is easily understood, not just by the legal profession, but by the criminals who are assaulting, threatening, and terrifying shopworkers. A separate offence for assaulting a retail worker would encourage prosecutions and provide the deterrent effect that our members are desperately looking for. A clear message that violence against someone working to serve the public is not acceptable.
“When retail employers, leading retail bodies and the shopworkers’ trade union jointly call for legislation, it is time for the government and MPs to listen. In Scotland, MSPs voted through a new ground-breaking law to give shopworkers the protection they deserve. We are now looking for MPs to support key workers across the retail sector and help turn around the UK government’s opposition.”
