Shoppers in Helensburgh have been urged to “Keep Your Cool” this Christmas as local MSP Jackie Baillie joins forces with local staff at the Helensburgh Co-op supermarket.

The Helensburgh and Lomond MSP organised a stall at the town centre store as part of shop-workers’ union USDAW’s campaign to protect staff from abuse.

Shocking research reveals that every minute of the working day a shop-worker is verbally abused, threatened with violence or physically attacked.

The theme of this year’s campaign is ‘Keep Your Cool’ and encourages the public to remember that despite the stresses of the Christmas shopping period, there is never an excuse for abuse or violence.

Jackie Baillie spoke to staff and customers at the store to help raise awareness of the campaign.

Jackie said:

“I was delighted to meet staff and shoppers at the Co-op and stand up for the rights of retail workers in Helensburgh and Lomond.

“Abuse should not be part of a shopworker’s job and nobody should face the possibility of being threatened when they go to work. Nevertheless, abuse has become part of everyday working life for too many workers in the retail sector. They face regular threats and abusive behaviour from customers, and it is simply not good enough.

“As we approach Black Friday and the busy Christmas shopping period, it is important that we send out a clear message that abusive or threatening behaviour will not be tolerated in shops