The SDA welcomes the WA Government’s move to introduce Retail Barring Orders, calling it another step forward in protecting the people who keep our shops running every day.
This legislation did not appear out of thin air.
The SDA has been pushing for strong retail barring order laws as part of the Union’s ‘No One Deserves A Serve’ campaign.
Today’s announcement is the result of years of SDA campaigning, research, and follows countless cases where the SDA has supported members who were abused, threatened, and assaulted simply for doing their jobs.
Retail Barring Orders represent another major SDA Union win protecting retail workers, the last milestone being the SDA led campaign for tougher penalties leading to the ‘assault retail workers’ offence in 2024, seeing individuals who attack staff in the course of their duties face up to seven years in prison, or three years and a fine of $36,000.
Today, the Government is acting because retail workers and the SDA refused to accept that customer abuse and violence is “just part of the job”.
Every day in WA, workers are punched, spat on, screamed at, and intimidated, often by individuals who are frequent return customers. These offences cause significant distress to workers, leaving lasting injuries, psychological scars and sometimes workers who are too afraid to return to the shop floor.
Retail barring orders change that.
They will allow police, retailers and where necessary, the SDA to ban violent or abusive customers from returning to stores. It means repeat offenders can be kept out, risks can be reduced, and workers can do their jobs without fear of returning abusive customers.
SDA WA Assistant Secretary Jo Clossick said the decision is a victory for retail and fast-food workers:
“Our members have been hurt, threatened and traumatised for far too long. Retail barring orders are practical, powerful and necessary. They send a clear message: violence is not part of the job.”
The SDA will continue working with Government to ensure Retail Barring Orders are implemented effectively including the power for the Union to initiate an order if employers fail to act. Because when a worker is assaulted or threatened, they deserve protection immediately.
The SDA’s message today is simple:
- Retail workers deserve respect.
- They deserve safety.
- And with Retail Barring Orders, we are another step closer to safer retail spaces.
No one deserves a serve, and soon the law will back that up.
