Mayor should apologise to assaulted Tube staff, says RMT

Publication Date: June 1 2008

LONDON MAYOR Boris Johnson owes a personal apology to every one of the London Underground staff assaulted, abused and spat on during last night’s alcohol-fuelled violence, the network’s biggest union said today.

At least six staff were physically assaulted and another 50 spat at or verbally abused during a 'booze party' on the Circle Line organised to mark the introduction of a 'half-baked' alcohol ban imposed without consultation with Tube staff, says RMT.

"Johnson should apologise personally to all those who were assaulted and abused last night thanks to a half-baked gimmick designed solely as a publicity stunt and without a moment's thought for the people told to implement it," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

"We have made it clear that RMT will support any measure that reduces anti-social behaviour and makes our members' lives safer, but this ban was imposed in haste without consultation with Tube staff.

"We warned that it could put our members at greater risk of assault, but there is no comfort in being proved right when Tube workers have been injured and abused.

"It is no good Tube bosses repeating parrot-fashion that they would not expect staff to put themselves in danger when they have been put in danger by the Mayor's publicity stunt.

"RMT's advice to its members is quite clear: if they believe they are at serious risk they should exercise their right to refuse to work, to take trains out of service or close stations as appropriate, and their union will support them every inch of the way.

"Let us hope that the mayor will learn the lesson and start paying heed to the voices of those who actually go out there and try to operate a service," Bob Crow said.