FIGHTING ASSAULTS AGAINST WOMEN

18 RMT women meeting in Liverpool called for stronger action to tackle the rise in assaults and abuse faced by female transport workers, warning that football match days are becoming a particular flashpoint on the network.  Moving a motion in support of the union’s Action Against Assaults campaign, Jessica Robinson, Darlington No.1 highlighted growing concerns from staff who say large groups of intoxicated supporters are creating unsafe conditions for workers and passengers alike, with women staff often bearing the brunt of intimidation and misogynistic behaviour. “There needs to be pressure put on employers to deal with football fans. “Any member of the train crew will tell you that football days are the days they dread going into work,” she said. Ms Robinson highlighted the difference between her situation as a guard with a cab to go to and caterers and cleaners who remain exposed to potentially violent and abusive passengers.  “Cleaners are getting groped while they are cleaning up sick from everywhere.  “We’ve got young women working on our café bars who shut their shutters just to try and block out the chanting and shouting but we have situations where football fans threaten our members saying they are going to find them after their shift,” she said. Speaking of her own experiences as a train manager, she detailed several incidents of abuse, aggression, and assaults she has had to contend with since taking up the post last year.  She also questioned why the British Transport Police had not been instructed to escort a chartered train for hundreds of football fans that turned ugly enroute recently.  “We have the football fixtures in advance so we know when they will travel. Why were there no security or police on that train,” she said.  She added that the union needed to press employers on this issue as part of its national Action Against Assaults campaign.  Annila Saghir, Kings Cross made the point that the motion was not aimed at every football fan but instances of assault and abuse “cannot be ignored”. “Outsourced workers often get the most abuse. As a train manager I can stay in my cab but our cleaners have no such option,” she said. Other delegates went on to share some dreadful experiences they had endured working in transport.  Swansea No.1 delegate and caterer Mandy Evans detailed a disgraceful incident where she was propositioned by a passenger who offered her money while she was at work.  Ebony Kingston-West, FIGHTING ASSAULTS AGAINST WOMEN Liverpool hosted the union’s largest ever annual women’s conference