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Stop shouting at shop staff, union urges Australians

The union representing retail staff has launched an ad campaign urging customers not to shout at shop workers.

The “No one deserves a serve” campaign from the SDA – Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association – union has been launched to coincide with the stressful Christmas shopping season.

The campaign shows the impact on the people who receive the abuse, featuring a mother getting her daughter ready for school, before being reduced to tears after being shouted at by an angry customer.

 

According to the union, 85% of retail staff have suffered abuse at work.

The campaign is set to run across TV, radio, digital and out-of-home.

Gerard Dwyer, the national secretary of the SDA, said in a statement: “Imagine going to work every day knowing you will probably be abused.

“That’s the reality for thousands of Australian retail and fast food workers and it’s completely unacceptable, not just at Christmas but all year round.

“Retail and fast food workers have told us they routinely have customers swearing and yelling at them, spitting in their faces or threatening them, simply for doing their jobs.

“This Christmas we’re calling on customers to check their behaviour before they get to the checkout,” he said.

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