GEELONG BAG RAGE

Abusive customers lash out at workers

SUPERMARKET workers in Geelong have reportedly been reduced to tears by abusive customers enraged by the banning of single-use plastic bags.

Geelong shoppers have revealed stories of retail workers being targeted by irate customers, amid shocking reports of a man wrapping his hands around the throat of a female Woolworths employee in Western Australia.

Discussion on popular waste-reduction Facebook group Towards Zero Waste Geelong, revealed Geelong retail workers were also bearing the brunt of customer anger.

“The abuse the staff were getting was out of control,” Hayleey Damon commented.

“Yeah, one worker at Woollies told me that she used to love her job, but the other night she went home and cried because of the angry customers,” Janita Annabel replied.

“I guess that the angry people are so selfish that they don’t care about the environment or other people.”

Geelong Advertiser reader Winnie Hart said a move by Woolworths to offer free reusable plastic bags last week was likely done to protect workers.

“They have done their best to minimise the impact on those grumpy consumers probably to protect their staff,” Winnie said.

“Staff members are the ones wearing the words of horrible customers who would rather see 80 bags in a whale then bring their own.”

Other shoppers said they would shop online to avoid