RMT demands urgent action on escalating violence across southern and Gatwick express routes

Staff are facing daily incidents of assault, threats, spitting, verbal abuse, and intimidation.

 

This rise in violence and aggressive behaviour is putting workers’ physical and mental health at risk, with frontline staff increasingly forced to carry out their duties in fear.

 

Despite repeated calls for action, GTR has failed to implement adequate safety measures.

 

As a result, the union is calling for immediate steps to be taken, including:

 

The deployment of additional staff and security personnel at key locations;

 

A visible and consistent enforcement presence to deter violent behaviour;

 

A company-wide safety plan to ensure staff can work free from the threat of violence.

 

RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “The level of violence on GTR’s Southern and Gatwick Express services and stations, has reached a crisis point and is totally unacceptable.

 

"Our members are being assaulted, threatened and abused at work and the company is not doing enough to stop it.

 

"GTR must take urgent action now to protect staff and passengers or we will have to consider all our options, including industrial action.

 

"We will not tolerate a situation where workers are left exposed and unsupported while this behaviour goes unchecked."

 

This latest episode underscores the importance of RMT’s ongoing Action Against Assaults campaign, which is fighting for stronger protections for transport workers and a zero-tolerance approach to violence and abuse across the rail network.

 

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