{"id":3748,"date":"2020-11-20T10:30:28","date_gmt":"2020-11-20T10:30:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uniglobalunion.org\/news\/global-solidarity-with-shopworkers-in-the-uk\/"},"modified":"2022-11-15T11:41:51","modified_gmt":"2022-11-15T10:41:51","slug":"global-solidarity-with-shopworkers-in-the-uk","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/uniglobalunion.org\/news\/global-solidarity-with-shopworkers-in-the-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"Global solidarity with shopworkers in the UK"},"content":{"rendered":"
UNI Global Union affiliates around the world have shown their support for Usdaw in the UK as it marks National Respect for Shopworkers Week from 16 to 22 November.<\/p>\r\n
The union has been running the event every year since 2002 as part of its Freedom from Fear campaign. However, this year Respect Week is even more important as research by Usdaw has shown that abuse, threats and violence against retail workers has doubled during the pandemic.<\/p>\r\n
Speaking on BBC radio, Usdaw member and shop manager, Claire, said:<\/p>\r\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been threatened to be spat at and given Coronavirus. I\u2019ve been pushed over, its daily occurrences.\u201d<\/em> She said panic buying at the beginning of the pandemic, as well as people not wanting to queue had led to attacks from customers. And, even though enforcing social distancing is for the safety of the public as well as staff, \u201cWe get mouthfuls of abuse back for doing it,\u201d<\/em> she added.<\/p>\r\n Violence against retail workers is a global problem and more than 20 UNI affiliates from Canada to Japan, and Turkey to Australia have shown their solidarity with shopworkers in the UK on social media.<\/p>\r\n