Report it! Sort it! Freedom From Fear Summer Campaign

In the lead up to the annual winter campaign from Usdaw, this week we are asking colleagues to raise awareness for the Summer Freedom From Fear campaign. Following on from our lobbying for legislative change, we will be taking part and encouraging colleagues to report any abuse, threats and violence aimed towards them. Make sure you Report it, to Sort it!

Why are we taking part and what has been done?

Throughout the last 18 months, our colleagues across the retail sector have played an essential role in our communities by ensuring we remained fed in a time of uncertainty. But despite this key worker role, the pandemic has resulted in a significant increase in abuse, threats and violence towards retail workers.

This is simply unacceptable, and we agree that abuse is not part of the job where retail workers deserve equal protection.

Over the last two years, while working in partnership with Usdaw, we’ve been lobbying for legislative change to ensure that all workers get better protection in the law via the Police, Crime and Sentencing Courts Bill. However, in July, the amendment was unsuccessful. Continuing to raise the issue of Shopworker protection, we still have hope as the Government has stated the Bill will still be addressed when it moves to the House of Lords. Bringing change, this is the first time we have a commitment in parliament that could bring a successful outcome to protect our colleagues.

To help further the call for change, any major incidents that do occur in store result in our Chief Food Retail Officer, Rupert Newman, writing to his local MP. It cannot change what has happened from an incident but most importantly it helps provide visibility & pressure on the topic of violence towards shopworkers. This is something that a number of retailers are also doing and keeps the issue on the agenda for when legislative changes are reviewed.

We would like to thank all our colleagues who wrote to their MPs and ask that you continue to support us in our call to make legislative change for the better.

Continuing to campaign for this alongside Usdaw, we ask store colleagues to report every incident of violence or abuse to store management and to the police if necessary.

Abuse is not part of the job, report it to sort it.