Irish Rail staff are facing threats of violence, sexual assault and open drug use on an almost daily basis, according to the NBRU.
The union is balloting its members for industrial action in protest at the “lack of protection” offered to staff right across the rail network against the “anti-social behaviour and downright thuggery that has now gone well beyond tipping point.”
It set out its concerns in a letter to the CEO of Irish Rail, the Taoiseach and a number of Government ministers.
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, NBRU General Secretary Dermot O’Leary said Irish Rail staff have “reached the end of their tethers” after years of anti-social behaviour.
“There is anti-social behaviour on some lines that would be classed in some quarters as low grade – stone-throwing, graffiti and just boisterous general unruly behaviour in stations,” he said. “That is a concern in itself.”
“But certainly, in terms of the more serious stuff that is out there … threats of sexual assault - significantly on a number of women who work in those roles - drunken behaviour, threats and physical violence.
“Some people don’t work on trains anymore as a result of some of the stuff that has been going on.
“You know, shooting up openly, cocaine use – it goes on and on and on.”
Garda Public Transport Division
Mr O’Leary noted that the NBRU has been calling for a dedicated Garda Public Transport Division for many years, noting that the calls have “fallen on deaf ears.”
“It is horrific out there and one of the main stats that really would surprise people was that in June 2020 to June 2021, there was 2,300 incidences across our railways – that was in the middle of a time when capacity was reduced,” he said.
“We have been engaging with Irish Rail but at the end of the day, we don’t think enough is being done.”
Passengers
He said it will become impossible to encourage more people to use public transport unless the issue is addressed.
COP26 (The UN Climate Change Conference) is starting this weekend and we are trying to encourage people to come back on to public transport and indeed new patrons,” he said.
“How can we do that if every time they open their paper or look at their phones, they are looking at more news of antisocial behaviour on public transport.”
The NBRU letter includes a number of first-hand accounts from Irish Rail staff.
It notes that the form of any industrial action will be set out following the worker’s ballot.
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