Action Against Assaults national campaign day on 28 April

Transport workers from across rail, bus and the ferry sector will take part in a day of action against assaults across the country on Tuesday 28 April.

RMT activists will leaflet train stations, bus depots and ports. They’ll be highlighting the union’s national campaign demands to curb the rise in assaults and abuse and to make public transport a safer place.

The demands include safe staffing levels and an end to lone working. The union also wants to see proper funding for British Transport Police and an increased presence of officers. And it’s calling for legislation to make it a specific offence to assault a transport worker. The campaign also wants an end to outsourcing of security and enforcement staff.

In Scotland, the union has secured manifesto commitments from the SNP, Labour and Scottish Greens, to legislate to protect public transport workers.

This stands in stark contrast to the continued failure of the Westminster government to introduce a standalone offence for assaults on transport workers. This is despite repeated calls from RMT and the wider industry.

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey who will be joining activists in Glasgow, said:

Our day of action against assaults is a major part of our campaign to put pressure on employers and politicians across the UK, to take concrete steps to deliver for transport workers on this vital issue.

Our members will be calling on the public to support them in this campaign as there is a shared interest to see assaults, abuse and harassment curbed, so we can have a safer environment for travel on public transport.

The action on Tuesday will be a launchpad for further political and industrial campaigning until we secure improvements for our members.

Featured image via the Canary