HAVING worked in the retail industry for 15 years, it was good to see the recent rise in assaults on shop workers highlighted; we need to understand what is behind the dramatic rise in attacks and anti-social behaviour against retail staff.

As a member of Usdaw, it was also good to see the Morning Star provide coverage of the fact my trade union is seeking to establish a law so that we in England and Wales can benefit from something like Scotland’s Protection of Workers Act, which makes assaulting shopworkers a specific offence.

Although this current Conservative government feels that existing legislation is sufficient, it is an unavoidable fact that violent attacks against shopworkers have increased since lockdown ended and so a change in the law would reflect the “new normal” of post-lockdown Britain.

Like thousands of these front-line workers, I still remember the day when lockdown was first declared; I remember witnessing the stockpiling of toilet rolls, the confusion customers felt as they stared at empty shelves and I still remember the numerous accusations that retail staff were hiding items from the public.

In the first few days of lockdown, I can honestly say, the only items I reserved for customers were a pack of toilet rolls for a pensioner undergoing treatment for bowel cancer and a six-pack of tomatoes for a nurse.

As food items were flying off the shelves, one manager even stated: “There’s nothing left for the staff.”

When it came to social distancing, I remember a nurse being screamed at for wearing a uniform and apparently “spreading germs,” a police officer was told he shouldn’t be out buying lunch, while shopworkers and security guards were simply ignored, or told to get out of the way.

When it came to incidents of theft, most shoplifters simply picked up items and walked out the door without being approached. Yes, this was the unpleasant reality for those who the government said were “essential workers.”

Not only were shopworkers being confronted with a national panic, but there was also a new weapon being used against those in retail — Covid itself.

As most people are used to hearing about shopworkers being punched, shoved or kicked, workers faced the risk of virus transmission by being coughed on or spat at. This became known as “weaponised Covid.” Luckily in Manchester, the police took these assaults seriously.

Having no choice but to cope under these circumstances, the men and women of Britain's food retail sector were incredible and made sure that no-one was forgotten.

In stores across the country, more collection points for foodbanks appeared, greater communication allowed for extra support for the clinically vulnerable and elderly, and during festive seasons shops became the unofficial drop-off points for numerous organisations supporting those at a financial disadvantage.

Thanks to shopworkers, foodbanks were able to replenish their stocks, clinically vulnerable children got access to items such as Easter eggs and at Christmas, disadvantaged families were still able to celebrate.

But what about those who worked during this period, those who got up each day and went to work despite the risks of a global pandemic?

These men and women are our mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers and unlike other front-line sectors, shopworkers had no access to the medical backgrounds of their customers.

Many shopworkers even helped those who were sweating and breathing heavily through a mask at self-scan tills, and those holding onto packs of vitamin C tablets.

As a country, we can’t thank these people enough for what they did during the pandemic and it is now Parliament’s duty, as our elected representatives, to give shopworkers justice and a safer working environment.