To mark the start of ShopKind Week (June 30th-July 6th) the
Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) and trade union USDAW are
calling on shoppers to show kindness, consideration, and respect
to Scotland's retail workers.
ShopKind Week is an annual event coordinated by the Association
of Convenience Stores and supported by the Scottish Retail
Consortium and USDAW which supports the promotion of kind,
courteous, and respectful behaviour in shops whilst seeking to
raise awareness of what it considers is the growing problem of
customer abuse and violence towards shop workers.
Last week's Recorded Crime in Scotland figures showed that
violence against shopworkers continues to increase, rising to
2,870 Common or Serious Assaults of Retail Workers, an increase
of over 300 incidents. The SRC believes the mistreatment of those
working in stores is wholly unacceptable and should not be
tolerated. ShopKind Week aims to change that by promoting a world
where everyone is able to enjoy shopping safely; and help to
support the vibrancy of retail destinations across Scotland.
A Parliamentary motion supporting ShopKind Week has been backed
by 36 MSPs: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/votes-and-motions/S6M-17811
Ewan MacDonald-Russell, Deputy Head, Scottish Retail
Consortium:
“Scotland's 230,000 shop workers go above and beyond every day to
look after customers to keep stores stocked and serve our
customers. It is appalling that seven colleagues a day are facing
assault, with innumerable others the victims of wider abuse.
"The SRC is calling on Scotland's customers to bring some
well-deserved kindness and consideration this ShopKind week. It
would be fantastic if we could change the narrative and move to
an environment where shop workers could feel safe in stores
rather than fearing the next confrontation. Shop worker abuse is
not inevitable, and whilst there is a role for businesses and the
police, it is everyone's responsibility to behave with
thoughtfulness when shopping."
The SRC's call has been backed by USDAW, who will be marking this
week with a campaign on July 5th with stalls in Glasgow and
Dundee to celebrate national retail workers day.
Tony Doonan, Scottish Regional Secretary, USDAW:
“We fully support the SRC in its plea to the public
to show courtesy and respect to shopworkers in what is a growing
issue of violence and abuse that shopworkers face when carrying
out their role. No one should have to experience threats of
violence or intimidation in the workplace””
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors
The figures on shopworker abuse were published by the Scottish
Government on the 25th of June: https://www.gov.scot/publications/recorded-crime-scotland-2023-24/
