RMT WELCOMES COMMITMENTS FROM SCOTLAND’S POLITICAL PARTIES TO PROTECT TRANSPORT WORKERS

Transport union RMT has welcomed the Scottish National Party’s commitment to introduce specific legal protections for public transport workers, as part of its programme to tackle rising levels of abuse and violence.

The union said the pledge to extend protections which are already in place for emergency services and retail staff, to transport workers is a significant and positive step that reflects the reality of frontline roles across rail, bus, metro and ferry sectors.

The pledge follows commitments from Labour and Greens to legislate to protect public transport workers.

RMT has been campaigning for a bespoke offence of assaulting a transport worker as part of its national Action Against Assaults campaign, with a day of action scheduled for April 28 to highlight the scale of the crisis.

The union contrasted the commitment from Scottish political parties  with the continued failure of the Westminster government to introduce a standalone offence for assaults on transport workers, despite repeated calls from RMT and the wider industry.

General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “We welcome these commitments from Scotland’s political parties, which recognises the vital role our members play in keeping passengers safe and the unacceptable levels of abuse and violence they face at work.

"We will be pressing the next Scottish Government to implement this change as soon as possible.

“This shows the success of our Action Against Assaults, and it stands in stark contrast to the failure of the Westminster government to act on a standalone offence despite a clear and growing need.

“This step in the right direction needs to be coupled with an end to lone working, proper staffing levels across the network and increased funding and presence for the British Transport Police to act as a real deterrent.

“Our national day of action on April 28 will underline just how serious this issue has become and will continue to build pressure until transport workers across Britain are properly protected in law and in practice.”