VIOLENCE IS NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: january 2020 :: RMTnews 12 A new RMT survey has found that a massive 72 per cent of frontline transport workers have experienced workplace violence in the last year alone. Of those, nearly 90 per cent had been subjected to violence on multiple occasions. The RMT survey comes just days after a particularly brutal and savage incident at Manchester Victoria which has sparked outrage throughout the industry. The survey of members working in rail, on London Underground and on buses and ferries, has been released as employers promote advertising campaigns against violence to transport workers during the festive season. While alcohol related incidents peak during the festive period, these results prove that work-related violence is a year-round problem for transport workers, and that many employers are not taking action to prevent violence and protect their workers. The most common form of attack was verbal abuse, with over 90 per cent of victims experiencing this. Transport workers also describe being spat at, sexually assaulted, racially abused and threatened with violence or physical assault. Shockingly, nearly a quarter of transport workers had been physically assaulted at work in the last year: “I have been assaulted more times in the railway in a year than as a prison officer of 15 years (Rail worker).” “A member of the public came up to me and told me he was going to take me round the back of the station and rape me (London Underground worker).” “Every day I suffer abuse in the work place (Ferry worker).” Despite the high rate of incidents, nearly all workers who were subjected to workplace violence did not take any time off work with 70 per cent of workers who experienced violence not satisfied with their employers’ response: “I don’t get sick pay so can’t afford to take time off (Bus worker).” “We get threatened by management saying ‘maybe this is not the job for you’ if we complain or take time off (Rail worker).” “The employer has taken no responsibility and has not shown any duty of care (Ferry worker).” “Shockingly, over 60 per cent of all transport workers had not even been told how to report violence at work.” Over 70 per cent of members say there has been an increase in violence in the last year. Reasons given for this include an increase in lone working, and the Tory cuts to the British Transport Police which have VIOLENCE IS NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS Widespread violence against transport workers not just a Christmas menace, new survey reveals