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The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) has revealed that its petition to protect retail staff from violence, threats and abuse has accelerated and been timetabled for a parliamentary debate on Monday 7 June 2021.
Launched by the unions general secretary Paddy Lillis, the petition attracted 104,000 signatures and is backed by major retailers and trade bodies to ensure the safety of all workers.
Late last year, the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee launched an inquiry into the issue the day after Usdaw secured over 104,000 signatures on a “protect shopworkers” petition.
The petition follows the news that over the course of the pandemic shopworkers’ incidents of abuse has more than doubled.
Lillis said: “We now urge MPs to support the aims of the petition and persuade the Government to back legislation to protect shopworkers. They have the perfect opportunity by accepting an amendment from Sarah Jones MP to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which we hope will be supported in the bill committee.
“Retail employers, leading retail bodies and the shopworkers’ trade union are jointly calling for legislation, so it is time for the government and MPs to listen”.
