26 February 2021
RMT Press Office:
RMT demands urgent action to halt surge in COVID-related assaults on staff at Lewisham railway station.
RAIL UNION RMT is demanding urgent action in defence of staff safety at Lewisham railway station in the wake of a surge of COVID-related assaults on staff. The demands have been issued following a meeting with station operator Southeastern yesterday.
In one incident alone this month a member of staff was spat at in the face and two others verbally abused and threatened by a man who was vandalising the station. This is the second time the worker has been spat at and the third time he has been assaulted, leaving him terrified of returning to work.
The incident is merely the latest in a long line of violent assaults, threats, racial abuse and intimidation that staff report happens on almost a daily basis. The union says that the appalling situation at Lewisham is just more evidence of why transport workers should be given the priority and protection that they so clearly deserve in the midst of the COVID pandemic.
RMT is issuing the following demands from station operator Southeastern:
· current weak risk assessments are shredded and replaced with ones that are strengthened and take into account the risk of assault
· the company takes appropriate steps to protect staff, including the request of an additional British Transport Police presence
· the company provides proper chain of care following incidents
· an end to lone working in the station which leaves workers vulnerable
· prominent publicity campaign and announcements at the station publicising zero tolerance to assaults
RMT General Secretary, Mick Cash said;
“It is a disgrace that frontline workers at Lewisham station have to go to work wondering if they will be the victim of a COVID-related or other assault.
“RMT is calling on the station’s operator, Southeastern, to take appropriate steps to protect staff, request additional British Transport Police presence and take a zero tolerance approach to offenders.
“We are also calling for an end to lone working in the station which leaves workers both in fear and vulnerable.
“Today the union is issuing specific advice to our members at Lewisham station on personal safety including to “safe stop” and walk off the job if they assess they are at risk of assault.”
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