SHOP workers in Cheshire have spoken out about abuse they've received while working as the retail trade union urges staff not to suffer in silence.

The union Usdaw has this week released shocking interim statistics which show an increase of abuse being levelled at retail staff across the North West.

In Cheshire, workers revealed they had been called 'a stupid little Hitler and a thick b*****d', threatened with a screwdriver during a till snatch and verbally abused.

One had also been victim to sexual verbal harassment from a male customer.

The figures, from an annual Usdaw survey of more than 4,600 retail staff, show in the last 12 months:

  • 71 per cent (67 per cent in 2019) have experienced verbal abuse
  • 48 per cent (42 per cent in 2019) were threatened by a customer
  • five per cent (five per cent in 2019) were assaulted
  • 45 per cent said they were not confident that reporting abuse, threats and violence will make a difference
  • 20 per cent of those who had been assaulted did not report the incident

Cumbria: “Mainly verbal abuse from challenge 25 who do not have ID.” – “Customers not having receipts then just having a go at you.” – “Being blamed for petrol station issues. Threatened to do me in and watch my back.”

Lancashire: “Male came in store he was in a mood already shouting abuse. Saw me and started as I am Asian.” – “Called b*tch, threats of waiting after work.” – “Pushed over by a shoplifter.” – “I got called a c**t because customer didn't have loyalty card.”

Manchester: “Customer very angry because I would not sell him many packets of paracetamol, he became very abusive and started throwing things.” – “Shoplifters and drunk customers frequently abusing security guards and occasionally staff.”

Merseyside: “Broken nose, table thrown at me, daily verbal abuse.” – “Been punched, spat at, kicked, items and objects thrown at me, chased with a knife.” – “Spat on when approaching customer for shoplifting.”

Paddy Lillis, the Usdaw general secretary said: “It is heart-breaking to hear these testimonies from North West shopworkers who deserve far more respect than they receive.

"Our latest survey results clearly show the scale of the appalling violence, threats and abuse faced by shopworkers.                           

"It is shocking more than seven in 10 of our members working in retail are suffering abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence.

"While some triggers have been removed, such as face masks and social distancing; the levels of abuse remain higher than before the pandemic.                                     

"Violence and abuse is not an acceptable part of the job. Worryingly one in five who suffered a physical assault did not report the incident and nearly half of shopworkers are not confident that reporting these issues will make any difference.

"Our message shopworkers is clear, ‘report it to sort it’.

"Having secured new protection of workers laws in Holyrood and Westminster, there is still much more to do.

"The Government must provide the co-ordination needed to ensure that retail employers, police and the courts work together to make stores safer places for our members to work."