SINN Féin’s Karen Mullan has people to respect local front-line shop workers over the festive period.
She was speaking as Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) launched its Respect for Shop Workers Week along with results of a survey of workers which found that three-quarters of retail staff say abuse has been worse during the pandemic.
The Foyle MLA said: “Obviously the Christmas period can be a very stressful period for many people but this year more than ever if it will be a very stressful period with the COVID Pandemic and the outworking’s of it.
“The results of a survey carried out by Usdaw has discovered that three-quarters of retail staff say abuse has been worse during the pandemic.
“Its also found 85% of shop workers have experienced verbal abuse,
57% were threatened by a customer,
9% were assaulted.
“These figures are clearly worrying. We need to support these workers in trying to keep everyone safe and playing a part in fighting this terrible virus.
“They are trying to keep businesses open and provide in many cases a vital service in communities and working very long hours in the run up to Christmas.
“The last thing we want to see is them being subject to this type of abuse just for asking someone to stay a few metres apart in a queue or to wear a facemask.”
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