31 May 2016
RMT Press Office
RMT warns Southern/GTR that their continuing attacks on staff put workers in danger of abuse and assault.
RAIL UNION RMT warned today that a persistent campaign of abuse and denigration of its front-line workforce by Southern/GTR is leaving staff open to attacks and assaults by members of the public who may have bought into the company lies.
In a letter released by the union today RMT warns that the cynical attempt to blame delays and cancellations on staff sickness, when they are in fact down to staff shortages created by a failure to recruit enough workers to fill new rosters, leaves members on trains and stations at risk. The union says that it only takes one person to fall for the company spin and to take matters into their own hands and we will have a major incident on our hands.
General Secretary Mick Cash said;
"The abuse and denigration of its own workforce by Southern/GTR has to stop before we have a major incident on our hands. The grossly irresponsible attitude that this failing outfit has adopted amounts to incitement and leaves lone-workers and women particularly vulnerable.
"Luckily, the vast majority of passengers don't believe a word that this company says. They know full well what this failing franchise is all about as they seek to milk their customers for every penny that they can. Over the weekend there were wholesale cancellations on Thameslink services which were nothing to do with staff sickness and everything to do with gross mismanagement of this franchise.
"It only takes one or two people to buy into the company propaganda and we could have a major incident on our hands. No responsible company, which recognises it's duty of care to its staff, would take that kind of risk. "
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