Dickson Backs the Usdaw Call for a New Protection of Workers Law in Respect for Shopworkers Week

East Antrim Alliance MLA, Stewart Dickson, is supporting the Usdaw organised annual Respect for Shopworkers Week, which this year takes place 15-21 November. During the campaign week Usdaw reps, activists and officials are talking to the public at street stalls and in shops to promote a message of ‘respect for shopworkers’.

Usdaw is campaigning for a new protection of workers law, like the ground-breaking legislation that came into force in Scotland in August this year. The union continues to call those protections to be extended to shopworkers in Northern Ireland and across the rest of the UK.

Mr Dickson says: “I am pleased to support Usdaw’s annual Respect for Shopworkers Week and join the union’s call for a new protection of workers law. I know that many major retailers also support this, so it is time to give these frontline workers the protection that they deserve.

“The pandemic has clearly shown us that retail staff are key workers delivering essential services. They not only continued to work throughout the pandemic, helping to keep us fed and putting themselves at risk of catching the virus, they have also had to endure an unprecedented amount of abuse, threats and violence.

“However, this is not just a problem caused by the pandemic, incidents of violence, threats and abuse were already increasing before Covid-19. So we have to act and I will support any effort to extend the Scottish protection of workers law to Northern Ireland. Abuse should not just be a part of the job.”

Northern Irish voices from the frontline:

“People throwing things at me, being abusive about waiting times and about not wearing masks.”
“I have been called names and sexually harassed.”
“Physically slapped by a customer, spat at and had groceries thrown at me.”
“High volumes of verbal abuse when either following the Think 25 policy or refusing to serve an individual alcohol who is already under the influence.”
“Screamed at for not having stock. Basket thrown at me because we didn’t have the ready meal he wanted. Threatened to wait on me outside the store when I finished because she was unable to get a refund.”

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “It is heart-breaking to hear these

testimonies from Northern Irish shopworkers who deserve far more respect than they receive. The scale of the appalling violence, threats and abuse faced by retail staff demonstrates the need for a change in the law.

“The new ground-breaking protection of workers law in Scotland is a major step forward and we welcome support from Stewart Dickson MLA for that measure to be extended to Northern Ireland. Retail staff have a crucial role in our communities and that role must be valued and respected, they deserve the protection of the law.”