HALT ASSAULTS AT LEWISHAM RAIL STATION

5 RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2021 :: RMTnews A report from the Welsh Parliament’s Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee which calls for the Welsh government to publish a plan that can rebuild public transport has been welcomed by the union. The report, which took both written and oral evidence from the union, called for the Welsh government to bring forward a plan based on understanding and responding to passengers’ needs, introducing new services and reforming fares and activity aimed at reassuring people that public transport is safe. The report also recognises the need to ‘move away from traditional demand-led’ and ‘forecast-led’ planning based on old assumptions. “It’s good to see the committee come out with strong support for new thinking on public transport. “We supported the Welsh government’s actions in taking the Wales and Borders franchise into public ownership and insourcing its cleaners and we want to see the government bring forward a plan that recognises that the days of treating passengers as a cash cow for private companies are over. R MT held a protest outside Lewisham rail station this month demanding urgent action in the wake of a surge of COVID-related assaults on staff. Protesters unfurled a banner calling for an end to assaults on the key workers who run the station. In one incident alone last month a member of staff was spat at in the face and two others verbally abused and threatened by a man who was vandalising the station. This is the second time the worker has been spat at and the third time he has been assaulted, leaving him terrified of returning to work. The incident is merely the latest in a long line of violent assaults, threats, racial abuse and intimidation that staff report happens on almost a daily basis. The union says that the appalling situation at Lewisham is just more evidence of why transport workers should be given the priority and protection that they so clearly deserve in the midst of the COVID pandemic. RMT has issued a series of demands from station operator Southeastern:. • current weak risk assessments are shredded and replaced with ones that are strengthened and take into account the risk of assault • the company takes appropriate steps to protect staff, including the request of an additional British Transport Police presence • the company provides proper chain of care following incidents • an end to lone working in the station which leaves workers vulnerable • prominent publicity campaign and announcements at the station publicising zero tolerance to assaults RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that rail staff were demonstrating outside the station to highlight the serious issue of COVID-related assaults and call on station operator Southeastern to take steps to protect to staff. “It is a disgrace that frontline workers at Lewisham station have to go to work wondering if they will be spat at or face some other assault. “RMT is calling on Southeastern to take appropriate steps to protect staff, request additional British Transport Police presence, and take a zero tolerance approach to offenders. “We are also calling for an end to lone working in the station which leaves workers both in fear and vulnerable. “The union also reaffirmed advice issued to members at Lewisham station on personal safety including to “safe stop” and walk off the job if they assess they are at risk of assault,” he said. T he union has called on the Scottish government to stop playing for time with the on-going consultation over the future of the Scotrail franchise and follow the Welsh example by bringing the services into public ownership. “There is no excuse at all for the SNP to drag their heels over bringing Scotland's railways into public ownership. Wasting time and money on consultations is just a smokescreen for their inaction. “Rail is already back in public hands in Wales and moves are even being made in England to pave the way to ditch failing franchises. The Scottish government are bang out of excuses and they should get on with it,” Mick Cash said. BRING SCOTRAIL IN-HOUSE HALT ASSAULTS AT LEWISHAM RAIL STATION WALES LEADS THE WAY