ASSAULTS QUESTIONNAIRE

www.rmt.org.uk :: june/july 2007 :: RMTnews 19 The incidence of violent attacks on members across all sectors where RMT organises has been a growing concern. Violence includes threats, verbal abuse and both racial and sexual harassment as well as physical attacks and injury to workers. All of these types of incidents are unacceptable. In response to the continuing high levels of physical and verbal assaults on members, RMT is developing a campaign on work- related violence across all sectors where we are organised. A typical day on the rail network alone will see at least six assaults on staff being reported in the Safety Management Information System (SMIS). However, the actual figures may well be much higher as assaults on both staff and passengers are seriously under-reported. Equally, other sectors see unacceptable levels of violent assault on staff. Whether it is bricks and other missiles thrown at staff driving buses or assaults on seafarers by abusive passengers it is time to stop this blight on our working lives rather than accepting it as “part of the job”. QUESTIONNAIRE The main reason for the questionnaire is to ensure that the union has concrete evidence of the reality of working with the general public as the union has experienced difficulties in getting assault figures from the employers. Violence is a social problem and what happens on trains, stations, boats and buses is a reflection of what happens in society at large. Nevertheless, this does not imply that we should be expected to accept aggression as part of our job. Neither should the travelling public be concerned about using public transport for fear of anti-social behaviour. CAMPAIGNING One of the aims of the campaign is to educate passengers, employers and the authorities about the real problems experienced by transport staff and to push home the message that RMT will not accept violence at work. The campaign will also seek to address the issue of under-reporting incidents and assaults. Unless every attack, whether physical, threatened or verbal, is reported then the union cannot achieve realistic statistics to present to the TOCs and the authorities. The union has been made aware that some companies have been removing some of the reporting mechanisms or introducing new methods that are time-consuming, not universally or immediately accessible or that offer no means of reply. It is vital that all incidents are reported, recorded and investigated to give the real picture of what is happening on a daily basis to our members. The union needs to work towards ensuring that staff are not placed in vulnerable positions or isolated with lone working. RISK ASSESSMENTS Risk assessments are a valuable tool in highlighting dangerous work practices and RMT reps ought to be getting involved with carrying them out. Employers should be heeding the advice of reps and members and consulting them over staffing requirements, especially for high-risk events like sports matches where alcohol and adrenaline can make for a volatile working environment. Training on how to deal with ‘challenging’ passengers is a good aid for staff but a secure working environment is far better. AFTERCARE The campaign will be looking at the kind of aftercare offered to members. Does your employer provide access to occupational health services such as counselling for stress or trauma? RMT would expect as a minimum that each case be fully investigated and followed up. The union expects members to be offered referral services should they desire them and to be offered full support in bringing charges against any perpetrator of aggression. GET ON BOARD This campaign will remain a high profile for your union until this threat is finally dealt with satisfactorily. RMT needs all members to get on board if the union is to make this campaign a success that please complete the questionnaire, photocopy or pull out of this magazine and return it to Unity House in the enclosed freepost envelope. STAMPING DOWN ON WORK-RELATED VIOLENCE RMT has drawn up a questionnaire and supplied a freepost envelope to find out the levels of violence members face at the workplace