Union official Jim Fury says retail workers are “very concerned” with the level of abuse reported from the other side of the counter

Retail workers are “very concerned” with the level of abuse reported from the other side of the counter according to Jim Fury, Assistant General Secretary of the Mandate Trade Union. 

Speaking to the Hard Shoulder’s Ciara Kelly, Mr Fury said that customers seemed to think that they could take out their frustrations about the rising fuel prices on retail workers. 

“We're getting calls nearly on an hourly basis now. They're being accused of being party to price gouging, but merchants, they don’t own these places. 

“They're not involved in any of the profits that come out of it. They just get a weekly wage, but the customers that are coming in seem to be able to believe that they can just vent across the counter at our members.”

Minister for Enterprise,Tourism, and Employment Peter Burker issued a statement Friday regarding the increasing rate of abuse faced by retail workers as a result of rising fuel prices. 

His statement reads: “I want to make it clear that this behaviour is unacceptable and no one should take their frustration out on any retail worker”.

“My department continues to engage with the sector as matters evolve, including through the government’s Energy Security Group, which meets regularly.”

Close-up of a sign on a cash register. Picture by: David Tran.

Mr Fury told Newstalk the Mandate Trade Union had been campaigning for safety for retail workers to be taken more seriously for a few years and that the Government needed to deliver on its promise to deal with the issue. 

“I would remind the Minister that back in November 2024, when he was making his pledges of re-election, Fine Gael said they would bring in the standalone offence to make it a specific offence to abuse or attack retail workers,” he told The Hard Shoulder. 

“There seems to be no desire amongst governments to actually act on the promises that they had made. That standalone bill needs to come in along with an amendment  to the current Criminal Justice Public Order Act just like it is about to be done in the UK.”

 Circle K filling station in Tallaght. Picture by: Colin Keegan.

Asked about how to better protect retail workers in the face of such altercations, Mr Fury referred to a recommendation from the Justice Committee about making abuse directed towards bar and hospitality workers an official offense. 

“At a minimum, people should be barred from entering the premises if they have previously abused staff.  

“Any employer has an obligation under the Health and Safety Act to make sure they’re in a safe workplace. If you hit people in the pocket, they’ll take notice.”

Mr Fury referred to UK legislation’s imminent introduction of prison sentences for assaults carried out on retail workers and unlimited fines for levels of abuse. 

He noted that two-thirds of reported incidents were verbal abuse with 28% of people escalating to threaten with physical violence. 

Main Image: Minister Peter Burke. Picture by: Colin Keegan.