Serious concern for safety of train staff

Media release: Rail and Maritime Transport Union
Monday 3 February, 2014

Serious concern for safety of train staff

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union is expressing concern for the safety of staff on Auckland’s train network following serious assaults over the weekend.

Two Transdev Auckland train inspectors were assaulted on Saturday afternoon at the Ranui and Swanson stations. In one incident a worker was surrounded by 8 people and kicked and punched and was left with a fracture to the eye socket.

It follows another assault on 29 January where a Transdev and a KiwiRail staff member were each punched in Avondale.

“These are shameful acts and those responsible must be held to account,” said RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson

“Rail staff should be able to come to work, do their job and go home safe at the end of their shift. We are calling on the travelling public of Auckland to leave our members working on the trains alone.”

The union is meeting with Transdev this week, and is calling on the operator and Auckland Transport to take steps to improve the safety of train operating staff, he said.

“We need improved security for our members on Auckland’s train network.”

“Rail transport is an excellent mode of transport for hundreds of thousands of Aucklanders, the vast majority of whom are respectful. But for the few who aren’t, there needs to be better security in place to ensure the safety of train operations staff,” Wayne Butson said.

Ends.

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