Campaign targets abusive customers

FREEDOM from fear . . . USDAW members, from left, Tom Williams, Michael Platt and Peter Kinghorn take their campaign to Tesco

A CAMPAIGN is highlighting the abuse shop workers in Oldham suffer from irate customers.

Members from union USDAW — which represents 390,000 people, the majority shopworkers — took its “Freedom from Fear” campaign to Tesco Extra in Huddersfield Road.

In the run up to Christmas tempers can flare resulting in shop staff getting abused every day.

USDAW organising officer Gary Cleaver said: “It highlights that shopworkers should not be facing abuse from the public at work. We’re lobbying Government to try and get laws which support shop workers through the use of anti-social behaviour orders.

“The campaign also raises awareness of what shop workers go through. They are minimum wage workers and the abuse just gets worse.

“Tesco were good and let us speak to customers. It does highlight to people what does happen to shopworkers.”

The campaign is backed by Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas.