2 March 2015
RMT Responds to Reports Of Abusive and Racist Behaviour on London To Manchester Train Last Night
General Secretary Mick Cash said:
“RMT is aware of reports of abusive and racist behaviour on a London to Manchester train last night, thought to involve football supporters returning from London, which resulted in a number of passengers being removed from the service at Stoke.
“The incident, currently under investigation by the British Transport Police, once again shows how vulnerable staff and passengers are in these kind of situations and why it is so important to have adequate numbers of trained staff on hand to implement procedures to protect both those using our railways and those working on them.
“No one should be subjected to racist and abusive behaviour but it is all too common place with rail staff in the front line expected to deal with it. They deserve the support and the resources they need and that has to mean an end to the cuts to staffing that are a feature of current rail franchising plans which do nothing but increase risks and encourage those who think the railways are a safe place to use threatening, racist and abusive behaviour.”
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