Chris backs campaign to help Keep Transport Workers Safe

Chris has given his backing to a campaign to help keep transport workers safer from violence and abuse.  

He has signed an Early Day Motion (EDM) 937 this week which notes with concern the findings of the TSSA union’s latest report ‘Keep transport workers safe – no to abuse and harassment on the transport network’. 

The report received 650 responses from transport and travel workers. It revealed that over half had experienced some form of violence -either physical or verbal – within the past year. It also revealed that 95% had received a form of verbal assault while at work, and more alarmingly over 40% had received a threat of violence involving a weapon. 

After reading the report Chris commented:

“I was disappointed, but unfortunately not shocked at the findings of this report. Violence and anti-social behaviour in the transport network has been a long-term issue, which has not been given the priority it deserves. But it should not be deemed as normal or inevitable, it can and must be tackled. Transport Workers need and deserve better support.” 

The report also showed a rise in racial and sexual harassment towards transport workers. 43% of respondents reported racial harassment while 37% reported sexual harassment. Another respondent noted that “a few times a week we face verbal abuse, racist remarks and threats of physical harm”.

The report goes on to speak about the long-lasting effects of the violence transport workers suffered, including physical injuries, emotional and physiological effects and effects on job satisfaction and productivity. 

One response in the report quoted: “At the ticket gates at Glasgow Queen St, a male had no ticket and was threatening staff. When I tried to speak to him, he told me he felt sorry for my family as he was going to stab me in the heart, then attempted to pull a knife from his pocket.”

The EDM aims to tackle this by calling on the Government to use public transport reforms to bring in legislative measures to increase the protection of transport workers and enhance funding settlement for the British Transport police. Which the report calls for when outlining recommendations. 

Chris added:

“I believe the calls in the report for legislative measures to be put in place must be investigated. The UK and Scottish Governments must work together on this to ensure the safety of workers and passengers. No one should go to work feeling unsafe or expecting to receive any form of violence, and our transport network should be free of anti-social behaviour.”

You can read TSSA Union’s full report here.