This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Partnership to address assaults on shopworkers
28/06/2004
Physical or verbal abuse of public service workers is
totally unacceptable and the Executive is working to stamp
it out, Andy Kerr said today.
The Minister for Finance and Public Services was
speaking after he met trades unions and the Scottish Retail
Consortium to support their efforts to tackle the problem.
He also backed the Usdaw National Respect for Shopworkers
Week, which runs from July 5 to 11.
The Executive is addressing anti-social behaviour in
communities across Scotland generally through a range of
measures, including the ASB Bill. It is also taking
specific steps to address abuse and violence of public
service workers, including raising public awareness,
providing incentives for employers to deal with the problem
and developing training.
Mr Kerr said:
"Far too many people employed in public services go to
work in fear of being assaulted, threatened or abused. This
is totally unacceptable and it cannot and will not be
tolerated.
"The Executive is determined to make sure the voices of
the victims are heard. With the support of the trades
unions and employers organisations, we are equally
determined to stamp out their abuse by members of the
public.
"Together, we are all aiming to ensure that no-one goes
to work in fear of being attacked or abused. The Executive
will do all it can to ensure that vision becomes a
reality."
Bruce Fraser, Scottish Divisional Officer of the retail
union Usdaw, said:
"Retail industry research shows that a shopworker is
assaulted, threatened or verbally abused somewhere in the
UK every minute of the working day. Many shopworkers fear
being a victim of violence and as such their lives are made
a misery.
"Usdaw is keen to work with employers, local
authorities, the police, the Scottish Executive and
industry organisations including the Scottish Retail
Consortium to address this disturbing problem."
Fiona Moriarty, Director of the Scottish Retail
Consortium, added:
"The Scottish Retail Consortium is pleased to be working
with the Scottish Executive and Usdaw in this very
important area. "It is imperative that the general public
appreciate the vital role shops, and those who work in
shops, play in any community, whether it is in a housing
estate, a city centre, or a rural location.
"It is for this reason that we all need to work together
to ensure that employees are fully protected from the sort
of destructive and dangerous behaviour this can eventually
lead to the closure of shops and destroy communities"
Mr Kerr was speaking today following a meeting with the
STUC, Usdaw and the Scottish Retail Consortium.
The Usdaw National Respect for Shopworkers Week runs
from July 5 to 11. The Scottish Retail Consortium are
current partners with Usdaw in Health and Safety training
which includes workplace violence. They are also
represented on the Scottish Executive Steering Group
looking at combating abuse against workers serving the
public. More details about Respect for Shopworkers Week are
available at
www.usdaw.org.uk
Fiona Moriarty is Director of the Scottish Retail
Consortium (SRC), the lead trade association representing
the whole range of retailers, from the large multiples and
department stores through to independents, selling a wide
selection of products through centre of town, out of town,
rural and virtual stores.