Wagga has not been immune to the abuse of retail workers seen across the globe as tensions rise amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Retail, fast food and warehouse workers' union SDA have welcomed the expansion of penalties for spitting and coughing on essential workers in NSW.
Police can now issue a $5000 on-the-spot fine, originally for spitting and coughing on NSW health workers, when all types of workers are targeted.
It comes as Riverina workers have been the subject of spitting attacks, with police called to an incident at a Wagga hardware store recently.
SDA's NSW/ACT secretary Bernie Smith said a staff member at the store was spat on by a customer before the new penalities were brought in.
"A customer got aggressive for some reason around the paint area, they spat at the shop assistant, then they started spitting in cans of paint," he said.
Mr Smith said poor behaviour towards retail workers had been a concern prior to the coronavirus pandemic, but the reaction to the virus had brought an "extra level" of customers taking out their frustrations on retail staff at their workplace.
"This issue of spitting and coughing is particularly something that's come out during COVID where it's just been disgusting behaviour," he said.
Mr Smith said those targeted by this behaviour faced the anxiety of trying to get tested for COVID-19 and waiting sometimes several days for the results.
READ MORE:
He said the union had heard of a second incident at a Lavington supermarket where a customer who had been asked to leave due to poor behaviour yelled in a shop assistant's face.
"Before they knew it, in the process of being yelled at, there's spittle sprayed all over their face as well," Mr Smith said.
"Now they have to go through the process of waiting to find out what this means for them."
Mr Smith said SDA welcomed the additional penalties for this behaviour, and said it was important people were aware they could also face criminal charges for assault should they spit at another person.
"It's disturbing that we'd need a law that stops this kind of disgraceful behaviour, but unfortunately we do," he said.
"Most customers are doing the right thing and we and our members appreciate that, what we ask is next time you're in a shop, not only should you behave yourself, but you should actually thank a retail worker because they're putting themselves at risk to keep our community supplied with the essential goods we all need."