Supermarket aims to put an end to violence

Verbal and physical abuse towards shop staff increases in the run up to the festivities so the superstore has joined a national campaign to put an end to the violence.

One customer had to be thrown out of the Kelham Way store last week after he got abusive becasue he was asked for ID.

Store manager Darren Harding said: “He had been verbally abusive. It’s getting to the stage where when staff are just doing their job and challenging people about their age for alcohol or cigarettes they are met with a barrage of abuse.”

Eastwood MP Gloria De Piero has thrown her weight behind the campaign.

“Everyone should be able to go to work without facing physical or verbal abuse. Staff work so hard in the run up to the Christmas period and I’d like to thank them for always displaying a cheery smile. Christmas can be a stressful time for us all but as Usdaw say, we should all keep our cool at Christmas and beyond.”

Ms De Piero met with members of the shopworkers union, Usdaw, who are leading the campaign to put an end to violence, threats and abuse directed at retail staff.

Usdaw is highlighting the problems faced by staff during Respect for Shopworkers Week, which runs this week, November 9 to 13.

Shop worker Ken Glenn said: “I’ve now worked here for 23 years and I’m concerned that physical and verbal abuse is becoming an accepted part of the job and it shouldn’t be. I just to come to work and get on with my job.”

More than 300 shopworkers are abused or assaulted every day in the UK.