Violence against Cambridge shop-workers is being called out by local Member of Parliament Daniel Zeichner as he joins the shop-workers union USDAW in events this week demanding stronger laws. They will be visiting the Tesco Express in Campkin Road (82-84 Campkin Rd, Cambridge CB4 2NF) and the Budgens in Arbury Court (50, Arbury Court, 50 Arbury Rd, Arbury, Cambridge CB4 2JQ)
Recent reports have highlighted an alarming rise in antisocial behaviour faced by retail staff in stores across the UK. These range from verbal abuse to physical assault creating an unsafe and stressful working environment for those who serve our community. Daniel Zeichner has questioned the Prime Minister about this at Prime Minister’s Questions.
The joint visit to these shops is part of a broader campaign to tackle anti-social behaviour towards shop workers. Daniel will be attending events in Westminster to promote USDAW’s ‘Freedom from Fear’ campaign to continue to protect shop workers. Both Daniel and USDAW also support the call made by Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper for a specific offence for violence against shop workers.
Daniel Zeichner MP said: ‘Shop workers are an essential part of our community and it is unacceptable that they face harassment and abuse on a nearly daily basis, while they are simply doing their job. This campaign by USDAW aims to shed light this issue and find ways to ensure the safety and well-being of our shop workers. We must work together to put an end to this antisocial behaviour.’
Rachel Goodwin of USDAW said ‘I am once again pleased to work with Daniel and retailers to advance the aims of our Freedom From Fear campaign. A joined-up approach with the Union, employers and politicians working together means our campaign is moving this issue of abuse towards shop workers up the agenda. We all need to collaborate to achieve not only a reduction in abuse, but a reduction in shop related crime which has seen a rise in incidents, particularly during the cost-of-living crisis. Our members have kept going through the pandemic and now must deal with abuse and violence on an unprecedented scale. They deserve our support, protection and respect.’
Our members have kept going through the pandemic and now must deal with abuse and violence on an unprecedented scale. They deserve our support, protection and respect.
