A local AM is surveying local shopworkers’ experiences of abuse, and calling on shoppers to treat workers with respect.
Joyce Watson spoke up in the Assembly to stand up for workers' rights.
Joyce said: “It is unacceptable for shopworkers to have to take verbal abuse as they go about their jobs. We all get stressed as we get closer to Christmas, but there’s no excuse for taking this out on people who can’t answer back.”
Joyce will be finding this out first hand from workers. Last year Joyce toured stores to hear direct from shopworkers about the way in which customers treat them. Most were courteous, though people of all ages and backgrounds were occasionally rude to checkout staff, but selling alcohol to young people was a real challenge, with some becoming abusive when refused alcohol.
This year retail union USDAW's annual Freedom From Fear campaign highlights the difficult decisions shopworkers face when trying to decide whether someone looks old enough to buy alcohol or other age-restricted goods.
Joyce Watson AM (in Mid and West Wales) said:
“It is sometimes hard to tell the age of a young person. Shopworkers have to make that on-the-spot judgement all the time. Refusing to serve someone who is underage is often a flashpoint for abuse, both physical and verbal, but even asking for ID is often enough to make many people insult the shopworker.
“On the other hand, if the shopworker serves someone who is underage, they are liable to an £80 fixed penalty notice, with repeated breaches incurring a court appearance or a fine of up to £1,000.
“Shopworkers aren’t paid huge amounts and they are in a difficult position of having to guess who to challenge. I hope that shoppers will be patient with shopworkers and produce ID if asked.
“I am also asking the Government to look at whether the balance is right on this issue. I believe that there is too much responsibility on the shopworker and not enough on the person who is attempting to buy underage. I want there to be a high profile campaign making it clear to youngsters that it is illegal for them to attempt to purchase alcohol underage. I want to see local retailers display that information prominently in their stores.”
John Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary, added:
“We are delighted that Joyce Watson AM is supporting our campaign on behalf of shopworkers in Mid and West Wales.
“We want to raise awareness of this issue amongst young people at schools and colleges, so that they know to carry proof of age when buying restricted goods.
“We want employers to understand the pressures that their staff face and to support them with simple reporting systems, prompt response when a threatened worker calls for help and banning persistent offenders from stores.
“In addition, Usdaw is campaigning with the Government. We are asking them to introduce a single, national proof of age card, to make it easier for workers to check the person’s age when needed.
“And we want to see a change in the law to make it an offence for an under age person to attempt to buy any age-restricted product or for an adult to proxy purchase any age-restricted product. This would make things simpler and fairer, allowing the authorities to take action against purchasers as well as sellers.”
