Poverty-pay staff working without protective barriers and without opportunity to take comfort breaks

Davy McMurray, Unite Regional Officer, confirmed his union is to ballot members working in the Sean Graham betting chain over management failure to address staff health and safety concerns:

“Sean Graham is a highly profitable company but management expect its employees, most of whom are women paid poverty-wages, to work with inadequate health and safety protections.

“Cost-cutting has left some staff members working by themselves, alone, in bookies with no opportunity to take a comfort break or even a lunch break.

“In many cases, employees work at open counters without protective screens or reinforced glass which might prevent theft or aggression from customers. We are demanding a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to be taken to abusive behaviour from customers. Everyone is entitled to work in an environment free from harassment, intimidation and the threat of violence.

“Unite has raised these concerns with management but they have failed to engage constructively at all. As a result, we have no choice but to proceed with a consultative ballot of our members over industrial action.

“To avoid unnecessary disruption to the business, we are calling on management to engage positively and address our concerns in regard to health and safety and pay with immediate effect”, Mr McMurray concluded.