GMB: Attacks On Retail Workers 'Completely Horrifying’

Attacks on retail workers are ‘completely horrifying’, GMB Union has said in response to a new survey. 

The poll, by the Retail Trust, shows 77 per cent of shop staff have experienced intimidating behaviour in the past year and 23 per cent were physically assaulted.  

A further 43 per cent said they are being abused or attacked every week, a 10 per cent rise on last year. [1] 

During a recent GMB survey [2], Asda workers said they had been: 

• stabbed, punched and threatened with syringes  

• spat at, suffered broken bones, been hit with bottles and had death threats against them and their children. 

• Delivery drivers had been chased by people in cars and been confronted by customers in the nude 

• store workers have had watermelons and joints of gammon thrown at them 

Nadine Houghton, GMB National Officer, said: 

"GMB members in retail have been stabbed, punched and threatened with syringes while trying to do their job. 

“It's completely horrifying – no one should have suffer this kind of abuse and violence at work.  

“Retail employers need to ensure they have adequate staff and security to prevent this happening - and rock-solid procedures in place to support staff when it does." 

[1] http://www.retailtrust.org.uk/ 

[2] Asda workers bitten, stabbed, punched and threatened with syringes | GMB Union 

Source : GMB Union

Image : Eddie Jordan / shutterstock / 1743926996

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