SHOP workers must be protected and respected now that most stores have reopened, their union said today.
Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis spoke out about the welfare of staff as all non-essential retailers were allowed to reopen yesterday for the first time in more than two months following the government’s easing of lockdown.
In England’s biggest cities, long queues were seen forming outside shops from as early as 6am, with measures including hand sanitisers on the streets and social-distancing “ambassadors.”
Mr Lillis condemned the rise in abuse against staff of the shops that were open during the lockdown and urged employers to put in place measures to protect staff.
He said: “The safety of our members and the public is our top priority, so Usdaw worked with the British Retail Consortium on joint safety guidance for shops.
“Retailers have to publish risk assessments and implement robust safety measures before they reopen, and we urge employers to work with the union to ensure their staff have a proper say in that process.
“Importantly, shops should not be allowed to remain open if retailers do not follow the guidance and operate safely. We will continually monitor the situation and support our members as they return to work.
“However, safety in stores needs customer co-operation and I am shocked that abuse of shopworkers has doubled during the coronavirus emergency.”
He said that it was “a disgrace that a minority behave this way at a time when we should be pulling together to get through this appalling pandemic.”
Labour’s shadow business minister Lucy Powell welcomed the reopening of shops in England but called on the government to provide guidance on how the hospitality sector can also resume, reminding the government that it had promised to do so.
She told BBC Breakfast that there was concern over the lack of guidelines for the sector, including hairdressers, hotels and beauticians, which are supposed to reopen in three weeks’ time.
The government is currently reviewing the possibility of reducing two-metre social distancing rule to one.
Small Business Minister Paul Scully has said the review will take a “matter of weeks.”
