Respect for Shopworkers Day - 11th July 2007

Bridget Prentice MP is backing a campaign by the retail Union Usdaw to tackle abuse against shopworkers after a survey found one third of shopworkers are subjected to vivious verbal abuse every month.

Bridget joined shopworkers in Westminster to sign up to Usdaw's Freedom from Fear campaign and to remind shoppers that "It's your store - respect it".

Bridget added, " I was shocked to read the latest Usdaw survey - and the revelation that so many shopworkers are regulalrly abused in this way at their place of work. I was particularly concerned to discover that one in ten shopworkers is verbally abused on a daily basis.  I believe our local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership has a key role in reducing the unaccepteble levels of abuse in some of our stores. I'll be urging our partnership to talk to local shopworkers and retail employers about how to deal with crime and anti-social behaviour in and around shops."